Sodium channel regulators and modulators

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method of identifying a modulator of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC), which method comprises bringing into contact a VGSC, a p11 peptide and a test compound under conditions where the VGSC and the p11 peptide are capable of forming a complex in the absence of the test compound: and measuring an activity of the VGSC, wherein a change in the activity of the VGSC relative to the activity in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound is a modulator of said VGSC. Compounds identified in such screening methods are proposed for use in the treatment of VGSC-related conditions, for example in the treatment or prevention of pain. Also provided are methods of enhancing the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) in a cell comprising the step of increasing the level of p11 in the cell.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to methods and materials for use in regulating or modulating voltage gated Na⁺ channels (VGSCs).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] VGSCs are transmembrane proteins responsible for bestowing electrical excitability upon almost all excitable membranes. The pore is gated by depolarization of the cell membrane, transiently allowing Na⁺ ions to enter into the cell, and generating the upswing of an action potential. Following activation, VGSCs undergo inactivation, limiting the action potential duration, and allowing rapid membrane repolarization followed by a return to the resting state. All known VGSCs exhibit remarkable functional similarities and this is reflected in a high degree of amino-acid sequence homology. However, natural toxins are known to discriminate well between Na⁺ channel subtypes. For example, tetrodotoxin (TTX) from the Puffer fish, can selectively block subtypes of neuronal VGSCs at single nanomolar concentrations, whereas other neuronal VGSCs remain unblocked by the toxin at micromolar concentrations. These neuronal VGSCs that are TTX-insensitive or resistant (TTX-R) are found in the peripheral nervous system, and are exclusively associated with nerves involved in the transmission of pain (see e.g. Akopian et al (1999) “The tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel SNS plays a specialised role in pain pathways”. Nature Neuroscience 2, 541-548).

[0003] WO 97/01577 (University College London) relates to a novel 1,957 amino acid TTX-insensitive VGSC from mammalian sensory neurons (which has been designated Nav 1.8). U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,349 (Syntex) discusses VGSCs. The sodium channel Nav1.8 (also known as SNS or PN3) is expressed exclusively in small diameter sensory neurones that correspond to Aδ or C-fibre nociceptors, which are the cells that transmit pain signals. One key feature of Nav1.8 pharmacology is its resistance to high concentrations of tetrodotoxin (TTX), which blocks most other sodium channels. Evidence for a role of Nav1.8 in pain signalling comes largely from knock out mice and from studies where the channel is downregulated with antisense oligonucleotides. These experiments suggest that Nav1.8 is important in models of inflammatory, neuropathic and visceral pain.

[0004] Nav1.9 (SNS2) is also found exclusively in sensory neurones that signal pain and is also resistant to TTX. The properties of the channel suggest that it is not involved in 10 generation or propagation of action potentials but is involved in setting the level of excitability of the cell. There is evidence that G-proteins can activate Nav1.9, which in turn increases neuronal excitability and makes the cell more likely to fire. There is no direct evidence for involvement of Nav1.9 in pain models, but given its function in the cell and the restricted distribution, it could play a major role in producing the is hyper-reactivity associated with many chronic pain states.

[0005] Nav1.3 is found in brains of adult animals and is sensitive to TTX. There is normally no Nav1.3 in sensory neurones, but after nerve damage, levels are upregulated massively. Again there is no direct evidence for involvement of Nav1.3 in pain, but the selective upregulation after nerve injury suggests that it might play a role in transmission of neuropathic pain signals.

[0006] p11 is a member of the S-100 family small calcium binding proteins. p11 is also known as annexin-II light chain, lipocortin-II light chain, calpactin I light chain, 42C, or S-100 related protein, and these terms may be used interchangeably herein. It is present in a variety of cells separately or as a heterotetramer. The heterotetramer is composed of two copies of p36, also known as annexin-II or calpactin-I heavy chain, and two copies of p11. The association of p11 with p36 is Ca²⁺-independent and of high affinity, and binding of p11 to p36 strongly enhances p36's ability to bundle F-actin. Within the cell, the heterotetramer is localized at the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane in the submembranous cytoskeleton, and it is suggested that the complex may play a role in membrane trafficking events such as exocytosis, endocytosis and cell-cell adhesion. It is also known that p11 is a strong substrate for tyrosine kinase pp60src and its phosphorylation is a negative modulator of tetramerization and protein function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention derived from the Inventors' finding that the p11 protein is involved in the functional expression of voltage gated sodium channels (VGSCs). The present invention provides screening methods for the identification of compounds which are capable of modulating VGSCs. In one aspect there is provided a method of identifying a modulator of a VGSC, which method comprises:

[0008] (a) bringing into contact a VGSC, a p11 peptide and a test compound under conditions where the VGSC and the p11 peptide are capable of forming a is complex in the absence of the test compound; and

[0009] (b) measuring an activity of the VGSC, wherein a change in the activity of the VGSC relative to the activity in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound is a modulator of said VGSC.

[0010] The invention further provides a method of enhancing the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) in a cell which method comprises the step of increasing the level of p11 in the cell.

[0011] The present invention also provides a host cell capable of expressing a VGSC and a p11 peptide wherein said VGSC and/or said p11 peptide is expressed from one or more heterologous expression vectors within said cell. Such a host cell may be used in the screening methods of the invention.

[0012] The invention also provides compounds identified as putative modulators of VGSC activity by the screening methods of the invention. Such compounds may be used in the treatment or disorders which involve VGSCs. The invention therefore provides the use of a compound identified by a screening method of the invention in the manufacture of a medicament for modulating the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel. Also provided is a method of treating a disorder or condition associated with the activity of a voltage gated sodium channel, said method comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a compound identified by a screening method of the invention.

[0013] Also within the scope of the invention are methods of decreasing VGSC activity or functional expression by decreasing the levels of p11. The present invention therefore provides the use of an inhibitor of p11 activity or expression in the manufacture of a medicament for modulating the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel. Also provided is a method of treating a disorder or condition associated with the activity of a voltage gated sodium channel, said method comprising administering to an individual in need thereof an inhibitor of p11 activity or expression.

[0014] The invention also provides isolated peptides derived from VGSCs and p11 which comprise the amino acids involved in binding between these two proteins. There is therefore provided a peptide comprising at least 10 contiguous amino acids of: (a) the sequence from amino acid 75 to amino acid 102 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or (b) a sequence having at least 65% amino acid sequence identity to (a); wherein said peptide is capable of specifically binding a p11 peptide and is less than 1000 amino acids in length. There is also provided a peptide comprising at least 10 contiguous amino acids of: (a) the sequence from amino acid 33 to amino acid 77 of SEQ ID NO: 4, or (b) a sequence having at least 70% amino acid sequence identity to (a); wherein said peptide is capable of specifically binding a voltage gated sodium channel and is less than 80 amino acids in length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1A: High threshold TTX-resistant Na⁺ current recorded from fluorescent

[0016] CHO—SNS22 cells after transfection with GFP-p11 cDNA expression vector. Na⁺ current has characteristically slow kinetics, and inward current is abolished by removing extracellular Na⁺ ions. Pulse protocol is shown above.

[0017]FIG. 1B: Average current (I/I_(max))−voltage (E_(m)) relationship for the Na⁺ current in CHO—SNS22 cells (n=5). The threshold for activation is close to −5 mV and the current peaks at +40 mV.

[0018]FIG. 2: p11 antisense mRNA expression in DRG neurons caused a loss of Nav1.8 current density. The histogram shows cell number against log[current density] for control and cDNA-injected neurons. White bars=non-injected control cells; grey bars=GFP-injected cells; Black bars=p11 antisense and GFP-injected cells. Two-tailed unpaired t-test for the log[current density] of neurons injected with GFP expression vector only and p11 antisense mRNA expression vector showed is significant reduction in Nav1.8 current (P<0.02, Student's two-tailed t-test).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCES

[0019] SEQ ID NO: 1 is the DNA sequence of the rat Nav1.8 receptor gene and SEQ ID NO: 2 is the amino acid sequence that it encodes. These sequences are publicly available from GenBank under accession number X92184.

[0020] SEQ ID NO: 3 is the DNA sequence of the rat p11 gene and SEQ ID NO: 4 is the amino acid sequence that it encodes. These sequences are publicly available from GenBank under accession number J03627.

[0021] SEQ ID NO: 5 is the DNA sequence of the human Nav 1.8 receptor gene and SEQ ID NO: 6 is the amino acid sequence that it encodes. These sequences are publicly available from GenBank under accession number AF117907.

[0022] SEQ ID NO: 7 is the DNA sequence of the human p11 gene and SEQ ID NO: 8 is the amino acid sequence that it encodes. These sequences are publicly available from GenBank under accession number NM_(—)002966.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The present invention relates generally to screening methods for the identification of compounds capable of regulating or modulating the functional expression of sodium channels. Also provided are methods wherein such compounds are used in the treatment of conditions associated with sodium channel function, for example in the prevention or treatment of pain.

[0024] As described in more detail below, this interaction may be exploited, inter alia, in:

[0025] (i) enhancing the functional expression of a sodium channel e.g. in cell lines which may be used for conventional modulator-screening purposes,

[0026] (ii) defining a novel target (i.e. disruption of the protein-protein interaction site itself) for devising modulators which could lower the functional expression of a sodium channel.

[0027] Sodium Channels and p11 Peptides

[0028] The present application relates to the regulation or modulation of functional expression of sodium channels, in particular voltage gated sodium channels (VGSCs). Table 1 indicates the sequence identity between various VGSC molecules, using the rat Nav 1.8 channel as a basis for comparison: TABLE 1 Channel Rat 1.8 Rat 1.5 Rat 1.9 Rat 1.3 Accession number X92184 M27902 AF059030 Y00766 With gaps 100 61% 49% 57% Without gaps 100 63% 55% 62%

[0029] A VGSC of the invention is any VGSC which has the ability to specifically bind a p11 peptide. By specifically bind it is meant that the VGSC binds the p11 peptide preferentially to a non-p11 peptide, for example a VGSC binds more straongly to a p11 peptide than to a randomly generated non-p11 peptide sequence.

[0030] In particular, the present invention relates to VGSCs that are associated with responses to pain or are involved in pain signalling. A suitable sodium channel is preferably a VGSC that is expressed in sensory neurons. For example, a suitable VGSC may be a sensory neuron specific (SNS) VGSC, for example Nav 1.8 or Nav 1.9, or may be upregulated in sensory neurons in response to pain, for example Nav 1.3. A suitable VGSC may be tetrodotoxin (TTX) insensitive or resistant, that is, it may remain unblocked by TTX at micromolar concentrations.

[0031] In one aspect, a VGSC for use in methods of the invention is a Nav 1.8, Nav 1.9 or Nav 1.3 channel. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences for the Nav 1.8, rat Nav 1.9 and rat Nav 1.3 channels are publicly available, for example rat sequences are available from GenBank under the accession numbers given in Table 1. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences for rat Nav 1.8 are given in SEQ ID 1Nos: 1 and 2 respectively and the nucleotide and amino acid sequences for human Nav 1.8 are given in SEQ ID Nos: 5 and 6 respectively.

[0032] A suitable VGSC for use in the methods of the invention may be any of these VGSCs or a species or allelic variant of any thereof. There is no requirement that the proteins (or nucleic acids) employed in the present invention have to include the full-length “authentic” sequence of the proteins as they occur in nature. A suitable VGSC may therefore also be a variant of any of these VGSCs which retains activity as a sodium channel. For example, a suitable VGSC may have greater than 65%, greater than 70%, greater than 75%, greater than 85%, greater than 95% or greater than 98% amino acid identity with any of the Nav 1.8, Nav 1.9 or Nav 1.3 sequences.

[0033] A suitable variant channel is one which retains sodium channel function. For example, a suitable variant of the Nav 1.8 sodium channel may have the normal function of a VGSC. The function of a VGSC may be measured as described below. It may also retain the tetrodotoxin insensitivity of the Nav 1.8 channel.

[0034] A suitable variant preferably also retains the ability to bind p11. For example, a suitable variant channel may retain the intracellular domain of a wild type VGSC.

[0035] For example, a preferred variant of the rat Nav 1.8 channel may retain the N-terminal intracellular domain found at positions 1 to 127 of SEQ ID NO: 2. A suitable variant channel may have a sequence comprising amino acids 53 to 127 or amino acids 75 to 102 of SEQ ID NO: 2, which are shown below to be involved in binding to p11 protein, or a species or allelic variant of this region.

[0036] A suitable variant VGSC may be a fragment of a wild type VGSC or of a variant thereof as described above. A suitable fragment may be a truncated VGSC, wherein, for example, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%,.20%, 25%, 50% or more of the original VGSC sequence has been removed. A suitable fragment may consist of or comprise a fragment of a full length VGSC, for example, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 50% or more of a full length sequence. A suitable fragment may be any fragment which retains the ability to bind a p11 peptide. A suitable fragment may also retain the ability to function as a sodium channel. A fragment may be, for example, 10, 20, 30, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 500, 750, 1000, 1500 or more amino acids in length.

[0037] A suitable VGSC may comprise a fragment of a wild-type or variant VGSC sequence as part of its amino acid sequence. Such a variant will retain the ability to bind p11, and optionally the ability to act as a sodium channel. A VGSC fragment which retains the ability to bind p11 may be derived from the intracellular domain of the full-length VGSC. Such a fragment may include the entire intracellular domain or a part thereof. A preferred fragment of the Nav 1.8 channel may be selected from the N-terninal intracellular domain, for example amino acids 1 to 127 of SEQ ID NO: 2. Preferably fragments represent sequences which are believed to be either unique to the channel, or are at least well conserved among VGSCs. Preferred fragments of SEQ ID NO: 2 include amino acid positions 1 to 25, 26 to 50 and 51 to 127. A VGSC fragment which retains the ability to bind p11 may consist of or comprise the sequence of amino acids 53 to 127 or 75 to 102 of SEQ ID NO: 2. Such a VGSC fragment may be, for example, 28 to 50, 28 to 100, 28 to 200, 28 to 500, 28 to 1000 amino acids in length or larger. A suitable VGSC fragment may comprise a part of the sequence of amino acids 53 to 127 or 75 to 102, for example, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 contiguous amino acids from this region or from a variant of this region as defined above, which retain the ability to bind p11.

[0038] Thus, in one aspect there is provided a peptide comprising at least 10, at least 15, at least 20 or at least 25 contiguous amino acids of

[0039] (a) the sequence from amino acid 75 to amino acid 102 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or

[0040] (b) a sequence having at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 85%, at least 95% or at least 98% amino acid sequence identity to (a),

[0041] wherein said peptide is capable of specifically binding a p11 peptide and is less than 1000 amino acids in length. Said peptide mav be for example less than 500 amino acids, less than 300 amino acids, less than 200 amino acids, less than 100 amino acids or less than 50 amino acids in length.

[0042] In one aspect, a VGSC of the invention has an amino acid sequence comprising:

[0043] (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4;

[0044] (b) a species or allelic variant of (a);

[0045] (c) a variant of (a) having at least 65% amino acid sequence identity thereto; or

[0046] (d) a fragment of any of (a) to (c).

[0047] Such a VGSC will retain the ability to bind a p11 protein. Such a VGSC may also retain the ability to mediate a Na⁺ current across a membrane, such as the plasma membrane of the cell.

[0048] A suitable variant sodium channel may be derived as described below.

[0049] The present invention also relates to the discovery that the VGSC Nav 1.8 interacts with p11 protein. According to the present invention, a suitable p11 for use in the present-invention may be a naturally occurring p11 peptide, or may be an artificially constructed p11 peptide. A suitable p11 peptide may be a full-length p11 protein or a species or allelic variant thereof. For example, a suitable p11 peptide may have the rat amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO: 4 or the human amino acid sequence given in SEQ ID NO: 8. A suitable p11 may alternatively be a species or allelic variant of the p11 peptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 8.

[0050] There is no requirement that the proteins (or nucleic acids) employed in the present invention have to include the full-length “authentic” sequence of the proteins as they occurs in nature. Variants may be used (e.g. which are derived from p11 for example) which retain its activity to modify the VGSC functional expression. Modified p11 sequences according to the present invention may have a sequence at least 70% identical to the sequence of an endogenous p11 such as the rat p11 of SEQ ID NO: 4 or the human p11 of SEQ ID NO: 8. Typically there would be 75% or more, 85% or more 95% or more or 98% or more identity between the modified sequence and the authentic sequence. A variant may comprise a fragment of a naturally occurring p11 sequence. For example, a variant p11 peptide may comprise amino acids 33 to 77 of SEQ ID NO: 4 which are shown below to be involved in the modification of VGSC functional expression. Also envisaged are variant p11 peptides comprising variants, for example allelic or species variants of such fragments.

[0051] A suitable variant p11 may be a fragment of a wild type p11 or of a variant thereof as described above. A suitable fragment may be a truncated p11, wherein, for example, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 50% or more of the original p11 sequence has been removed. A suitable fragment may consist of or comprise a fragment of a full length p11. for example, 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%. 50% or more of a full length sequence. A suitable fragment may be any fragment which retains the ability to bind a VGSC. A fragment may be, for example, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 80, 90 or more amino acids in length.

[0052] A suitable p11 may comprise a fragment of a wild-type or variant p11 sequence as part of its amino acid sequence. Such a variant will retain the ability to bind VGSC. A p11 fragment which retains the ability to bind VGSC may consist of or comprise the sequence of amino acids 33 to 77 of SEQ ID NO: 4. Such a p11 fragment may be, for example, 44 to 50, 44 to 60, 44 to 70, 44 to 80 amino acids in length or larger. A suitable p11 fragment may comprise a part of the sequence of amino acids 33 to 77 of SEQ ID NO: 4, for example, 5, 10, 15, 20. 25, 20, 40 or more amino acids from this region which retain the ability to bind VGSC.

[0053] Thus, in one aspect there is provided a peptide comprising at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, at least 35 or at least 45 contiguous amino acids of

[0054] (a) the sequence from amino acid 33 to amino acid 77 of SEQ ID NO: 4, or

[0055] (b) a sequence having at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 85%, at least 95% or at least 98% amino acid sequence identity to (a),

[0056] wherein said peptide is capable of specifically binding a voltage gated sodium channel and is less than 80 amino acids in length. Said peptide may be for example less than 70 amino acids, less than 60 amino acids, less than 50 amino acids, less than 40 amino acids or less than 30 amino acids in length.

[0057] A p11 peptide for use in the methods of the present invention may therefore have an amino acid sequence comprising:

[0058] (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 8;

[0059] (b) a species or allelic variant of (a);

[0060] (c) a variant of (a) having at least 70% amino acid sequence identity thereto; or

[0061] (d) a fragment of any of (a) to (c).

[0062] Such a p11 peptide will retain the ability to bind a VGSC.

[0063] The term “derived” includes variants produced by modification of the authentic native sequence e.g. by introducing changes into the full-length or part-length sequence, for example substitutions, insertions, and/or deletions. This may be achieved by any appropriate technique, including restriction of the sequence with an endonuclease followed by the insertion of a selected base sequence (using linkers if required) and ligation. Also possible is PCR-mediated mutagenesis using mutant primers. It may, for instance, be preferable to add in or remove restriction sites in order to facilitate further cloning. There may be up to five, for example up to ten or up to twenty or more nucleotide deletions, insertions and/or substitutions made to the full-length or part length sequence provided functionality is not totally lost.

[0064] Similarity or identity may be as defined and determined by the TBLASTN program, of Altschul et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403-10, or BestFit, which is part of the Wisconsin Package, Version 8, September 1994, (Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis., USA, Wisconsin 53711). Preferably sequence comparisons are made using FASTA and FASTP (see Pearson & Lipman, 1988. Methods in Enzymology 183: 63-98). Parameters are preferably set, using the default matrix, as follows: Gapopen (penalty for the first residue in a gap): −16 for DNA; Gapext (penalty for additional residues in a gap): −4 for DNA KTUP word length: 6 for DNA. Alternatively, homology in this context can be judged by probing under appropriate stringency conditions. One common formula for calculating the stringency conditions required to achieve hybridization between (complementary) nucleic acid molecules of a specified sequence homology is (Sambrook et al., 1989): T_(m)=81.5° C.+16.6 Log [Na+]0.41 (% G÷C)−0.63 (% formamide)−600/#bp in duplex. Preferred conditions will give hybridisation of molecules at least 70% homology as described above.

[0065] Nucleic Acids

[0066] The present invention also encompasses the use of nucleic acids which encode VGSCs or p11 peptides of the invention to produce such proteins. For example provided in the sequence listing are nucleic acid sequences encoding the rat Nav 1.8 channel (SEQ ID NO: 1), the rat p11 protein (SEQ ID NO: 3), the human Nav 1.8 channel (SEQ ID NO: 5) and the human p11 protein (SEQ ID NO: 7).

[0067] Generally, nucleic acids of, or for use in, the present invention (e.g. encoding p11) may be provided isolated and/or purified from their natural environment, in substantially pure or homogeneous form, or free or substantially free of other nucleic acids of the species of origin. Where used herein, the term “isolated” encompasses all of these possibilities. Nucleic acid according to the present invention may be in the form of, or derived from, cDNA, RNA, genomic DNA and modified nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogs.

[0068] Thus the invention also relates, in a further aspect, to use of a heterologous nucleic acid molecule which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding p11 described above, in the various methods of the invention.

[0069] The term “heterologous” is used broadly herein to indicate that the gene/sequence of nucleotides in question (e.g. encoding p11) have been introduced into cells using genetic engineering, i.e. by human intervention. A heterologous gene may replace an endogenous equivalent gene, i.e. one which normally performs the same or a similar function, or the inserted sequence may be additional to the endogenous gene or other sequence. Nucleic acid heterologous to a cell may be non-naturally occurring in cells of that type, variety or species.

[0070] Nucleic acid sequences which encode a polypeptide in accordance with the present invention can be readily prepared by the skilled person using the information and references contained herein and techniques known in the art (for example, see Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis, “Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989, and Ausubel et al., Short Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, 1992). These techniques include (i) the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify samples of the relevant nucleic acid, e.g. from genomic sources, (ii) chemical synthesis, or (iii) preparation of cDNA sequences.

[0071] Constricts and Vectors

[0072] In cell-based assay embodiments of the present invention, the polypeptide of interest can be introduced by causing or allowing the expression in a cell of an expression construct or vector.

[0073] A construct for delivery of a nucleic acid of the invention may include any other regulatory sequences or structural elements as would commonly be included in such a system, and as is described below. The vector components will usually include, but are not limited to, one or more of an origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter, and a transcription termination sequence. Construction of suitable vectors containing one or more of these components employs standard ligation techniques which are known to the skilled artisan. Nucleic acid sequences which enable a vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast, and viruses. For example, various viral origins (SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV or BPV) are useful for cloning vectors in mammalian cells.

[0074] Particularly preferred for use herein is an expression vector e.g. in the form of a plasmid, cosmid, viral particle, phage, or any other suitable vector or construct which can be taken up by a cell and used to express a coding sequence. Expression vectors usually contain a promoter which is operably linked to the protein-encoding nucleic acid sequence of interest, so as to direct mRNA synthesis. Promoters recognized by a variety of potential host cells are well known. “Operably linked” means joined as part of the same nucleic acid molecule, suitably positioned and oriented for transcription to be initiated from the promoter. DNA operably linked to a promoter is “under transcriptional control” of the promoter. Transcription from vectors in mammalian host cells is controlled, for example, by promoters obtained from the genomes of viruses such as polyoma virus, fowlpox virus, adenovirus (such as Adenovirus 2), bovine papilloma virus, avian sarcoma virus, cytomegalovirus, a retrovirus, hepatitis-B virus and Simian Virus 40 (SV40), from heterologous mammalian promoters, e.g. the actin promoter or an immunoglobulin promoter, and from heat-shock promoters, provided such promoters are compatible with the host cell systems.

[0075] Where a cell line is used in which both the VGSC and p11 are heterologous, these proteins may be expressed from a single vector or from two separate vectors. More than one copy of the protein encoding sequences may be present in the vector.

[0076] Expression vectors of the invention may also contain one or more selection genes. Typical selection genes encode proteins that (a) confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins e.g. ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate, or tetracycline. (b) complement auxotrophic deficiencies, or (c) supply critical nutrients not available from complex media, e.g., the gene encoding D-alanine racemase for Bacilli. The protein encoding sequences may include reporter genes which may be any suitable reporter gene used in the art. Such reporter genes includes chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT), β-galactosidase, luciferase or GFP.

[0077] Cells

[0078] The methods referred to above may therefore further include introducing the nucleic acid into a host cell. The introduction, which may be generally referred to without limitation as “transformation”, may employ any available technique. For eukaryotic cells, suitable techniques may include calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-Dextran, electroporation, liposome-mediated transfection and transduction using retrovirus or other virus, e.g. vaccinia or, for insect cells, baculovirus. For example, the calcium phosphate precipitation method of Graham and van der Eb, Virology 52:456457 (1978) can be employed. General aspects of mammalian cell host system transformations have been described in U.S. Pat. No.4,399,216. For various techniques for transforming mammalian cells, see Keown et al., Methods in Enzymology, 185:527 537 (1990) and Mansour et al., Nature 336:348-352 (1988).

[0079] The cells used in methods of the present invention may be present in, or extracted from, organisms, may be cells or cell lines transiently or permanently transfected or transformed with the appropriate proteins or nucleic acids encoding them or may be cells or cell lines which express the required VGSC and p11 peptide from endogenous (i.e. not artificially introduced) genes. The term “in vivo” where used herein includes all these possibilities. Thus in vivo methods may be performed in a suitably responsive cell line which expresses the VGSC (either as a native channel, or from a vector introduced into the cell). The cell line may be in tissue culture or may be, for example, a cell line xenograft in a non-human animal subject.

[0080] The cell lines used in assays of the invention may be used to achieve transient expression of p11 or may be stably transfected with constructs which express a p11 peptide. The cell lines may be transiently or stably transfected with constructs which express the VGSC. Means to generate stably transformed cell lines are well known in the art and such means may be used here. Preferred cells are non-neuronal e.g. CHO cell cells.

[0081] The level of p11 or VGSC expression in a cell may be increased by introducing it into the cells directly or by causing or allowing expression from heterologous nucleic acid encoding therefore. A cell may be used which endogenously expresses p11 and/or VGSC without the introduction of heterologous genes. Such a cell may endogenously express sufficient levels of p11 and/or VGSC for use in the methods of the invention, or may express only low levels of p11 and/or VGSC which require supplementation as described herein. A cell may be used which endogenously expresses no p11 or VGSC, but which can be made to express p11 and VGSC using methods such as those described herein.

[0082] The present invention therefore encompasses host cells which express VGSC and p11 peptide according to the present invention, one or both of which may be heterologously expressed. In such cells, said VGSC and said p11 peptide should be expressed such that the two proteins interact to upregulate the functional expression of the VGSC. Such host cells are suitable for use in the screening methods of the invention.

[0083] Host cells transfected or transformed with expression or cloning vectors described herein may be cultured in conventional nutrient media. The culture conditions, such as media, temperature, pH and the like, can be selected by the skilled artisan without undue experimentation. In general, principles, protocols, and practical techniques for maximizing the productivity of cell cultures can be found in “Mammalian Cell Biotechnology: a Practical Approach”, M. Butler, ed. JRL Press, (1991) and Sambrook et al, supra.

[0084] Transgenic Organisms

[0085] Host cells according to the present invention (i.e. including heterologous p11 for increasing VGSC expression) may be comprised in a transgenic animal, and the present invention further provides uses of the transgenic animal in the methods herein. The transgenic organisms of the invention all include within a plurality of their cells a cloned recombinant or synthetic DNA sequence which encodes the heterologous p11.

[0086] For more details regarding the production of transgenic organisms, and specifically transgenic mice, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 4,873.191, issued Oct. 10, 1989 (incorporated herein by reference to disclose methods for producing transgenic mice), and to the numerous scientific publications referred to and cited therein.

[0087] The foregoing discussion has been generally concerned with uses of the nucleic acids of the present invention for production of functional polypeptides, thereby increasing the concentration of p11 in a cell so as to increase functional expression of the VGSC. However, as explained below, the information disclosed herein may also be used to reduce the activity of p11 in cells in which it is desired to do so, with a corresponding reduction in the functional expression of the VGSC.

[0088] Increasing Functional VGSC Expression

[0089] The present invention provides a method for enhancing the functional expression of a VGSC comprising exposing said channel to a p11 peptide. Thus the invention provides a method of modifying the translocation of a voltage gated sodium channel into a plasma membrane of a cell, which method comprises the step of altering the concentration of p11 in the cell.

[0090] Such a method may be used to increase the functional expression of a VGSC in the cell. The level of “functional expression” of the channel is used herein to describe the quantity or proportion of the channel which is active within a cell. “Active” in this context means capable of mediating a sodium current across a membrane in response to an appropriate stimulus.

[0091] Thus a further aspect of the present invention provides a method of enhancing the functional expression of a VGSC in a cell, which method comprises the step of increasing the level of p11 in the cell.

[0092] The VGSC may be any VGSC of the invention as described above. The p11 peptide may be any p11 of the invention as described above. The cell may be any suitable cell line as described above. Preferably the VGSC is expressed within the cell. The p11 peptide may also be expressed within the cell or may be applied to the cell. The VGSC and/or the p11 peptide may be expressed from endogenous genes within the cell or from heterologous genes that have been introduced into the cell, for example by transfaction of the cell with one or more vectors as described above.

[0093] Preferably, a p11 peptide of the invention is either applied to the cell or is heterologously expressed within the cell. The p11 peptide may be expressed under the control of an inducible promoter so that the level of p11 expressed within the cell may be regulated. By heterologously providing p11 to the cell, the functional expression of the VGSC, that is the recruitment of the VGSC to the membrane and the subsequent activity of the VGSC, may be enhanced.

[0094] A cell in which the functional expression of a VGSC has been enhanced by such a method may be subsequently used in a screening method of the invention. Such a cell will have enhanced VGSC functional expression and will therefore be particularly sensitive to any changes in VGSC activity that a test compound may cause.

[0095] Assays using Enhanced VGSC Functional Expression

[0096] It is well known that pharmaceutical research leading to the identification of a new drug may involve the screening of very large numbers of candidate substances, both before and even after a lead compound has been found. This is one factor which makes pharmaceutical research very expensive and time-consuming. Means for assisting in the screening process can have considerable commercial importance and utility.

[0097] One aspect of the present invention is based on the enhanced VGSC functionality which can be achieved using p11. This effect can be used to generate assays having enhanced sensitivity. Such systems (e.g. cell lines) are particularly useful for identifying compounds capable of modulating the VGSC.

[0098] “Modulating” herein includes any effect on the functional expression of a VGSC. This includes blocking or inhibiting the activity of the channel in the presence of, or in response to, an appropriate stimulator. Alternatively modulators may enhance the activity of the channel. Preferred modulators are channel blockers or inhibitors.

[0099] The screening methods described herein generally assess whether a test compound or putative modulator are capable of causing a change in an activity of a VGSC. Any activity normally exhibited by a VGSC may be measured. For example, a suitable activity may be the ability of the VGSC to bind specifically to or to form a complex with a p11 peptide. Such a binding activity may be measured using methods known in the art, such as those described herein. A test compound which modulates this binding activity is a potential modulator of VGSC. Another activity of VGSCs which may be measured is the ability to function as a sodium channel. This may be measured using methods known in the art such as those described herein. For example, a test compound may affect the ability of a VGSC to produce a sodium current across a membrane in which the VGSC is present. Such assays may include the application of a specific stimulus, for example a stimulus which would normally result in sodium current flow.

[0100] The present aspect of the invention may take the form of any, preferably in vivo, assay utilising the enhanced VGSC functionality which can be achieved using p11. is The term “in vivo” includes cell lines and the like as described above. This assay is carried out in a cell in which the functional expression of the VGSC has been enhanced by exposure to a p11 peptide. Thus the in vivo assays may be performed in a suitably responsive cell line which expresses a VGSC of the invention (either as a native channel, or from a vector introduced into the cell) and in which p11 is either applied to said cell or is expressed within said cell (endogenously or heterologously). Preferably, a p11 peptide of the invention is either applied to the cell or is heterologously expressed within the cell. The p11 peptide may be expressed under the control of an inducible promoter so that the level of p11 expressed within the cell may be regulated. By heterologously providing p11 to the cell, the functional expression of the VGSC, that is the recruitment of the VGSC to the membrane and the subsequent activity of the VGSC, may be enhanced. In the in vivo assays of the invention, it will be desirable to achieve sufficient levels of p11 to recruit VGSC to the membrane to enhance its functional expression. However, the precise format of the assays of the invention may be varied by those of skill in the art using routine skill and knowledge.

[0101] The invention therefore provides methods for increasing the functional expression of a VGSC in a cell, comprising exposing said VGSC to a p11 peptide of the invention. Cells having enhanced functional expression of VGSC are also envisaged as an aspect of the invention.

[0102] The invention further provides methods of modulating a VGSC the functional expression of which has been enhanced, which method comprises the step of contacting said channel with a putative modulator thereof.

[0103] The contacting step may be in vivo or in vitro, as described in more detail below. One suitable system for testing modulation (e.g. inhibition or blockage) of, for example, the SNS sodium channel (Nav 1.8), is the CHO-SNS employed in the Examples below. Other systems for testing modulation are disclosed e.g. in WO 97/01577. Membrane currents are conveniently measured with the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp method, according to the procedure detailed in the Examples. Preferred voltage clamps are those in which the cell potential is stepped from the holding potential of about −90 mV to test potentials that range from about −110 mV to +60 to 80 mV. In order to isolate TTX-R sodium currents, TTX, 4-aminopyridine (AP) and CdCl₂ were used with tetraethyl ammonium ions (TEA), and Cs. However those skilled in the art will be aware of other such compounds and combinations of compounds which could be used analogously.

[0104] In one embodiment there is provided a method for identifying a modulator of a VGSC which method comprises the steps of:

[0105] (i) providing a cell in which the functional activity of said channel has been enhanced as described above (e.g. by increasing the concentration of p11 in the cell e.g. by causing or allowing expression from a nucleic acid encoding p11 in the cell);

[0106] (ii) contacting (directly or indirectly) the channel in the cell with the test compound,

[0107] (iii) measuring the activity (e.g. the current mediated by the channel, optionally in the presence of an activator) of the channel.

[0108] Preferably the activity before and after the contacting with the test compound will be compared, and optionally the relative activity will be correlated with the modulatory activity of the test compound. Compounds may therefore be identified that are capable of modulating the activity of a VGSC. Such compounds may have therapeutic use in the treatment or prevention of conditions associated with VGSC activity as described in more detail below.

[0109] Methods of the present invention may be employed in high throughput screens analogous to those well known in the art—see e.g. WO 00/16231 (Navicyte); WO 00/14540 (Tibotec); DE 19840545 (Jerini Biotobls); WO 00/12755 (Higher Council for Scientific Research); WO 00/12705 (Pausch MH; Wess J); WO 00/11216 (Bristol-Myers Squibb); U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,873 (Genencor Intl.); DE 19835071 (Carl Zeiss; F Hoffman-La Roche); WO 00/03805 (CombiChem); WO 00/02899 (Biocept); WO 00/02045 (Euroscreen); U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,690 (Aclara Biosciences).

[0110] Interaction between p11 and VGSC

[0111] The interaction of a p11 peptide and a VGSC may be investigated, optionally using fragments of one or both proteins. The proteins or fragments may be labeled to facilitate this.

[0112] For example the proteins or fragments can be linked to a coupling partner, e.g. a label. Techniques for coupling labels to peptidyl coupling partners are well known in the art. Labels may be fluorescent marker compounds expressed as fusions e.g. GFP. In another embodiment the proteins or fragments may be radiolabeled. Radiolabeling of peptides can be achieved using various methods known in the art. For example. peptides can be labelled with a radioactive isotope through use of a chelating agent or by covalent labelling with a material capable of direct reaction with a peptide (such as iodine), as well as by direct labelling (substitution of a radioactive isotope, such as ¹⁴C or tritium, for an atom present in the peptide) or ³⁵S-methionine which may be incorporated into recombinantly produced proteins.

[0113] Generally, radiolabelled peptides containing tyrosine will be prepared using I¹²⁵, or by tritium exchange. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,113, as well as numerous other patent and other publications, for general techniques available for the radiolabeling process. As used herein, the term “radiolabeled” describes a product that has been attached to a radioisotope by any of the various known methods, such as by covalent labeling or covalent binding, by a direct substitution method, or by a chelation method.

[0114] Other suitable detectable labels include tags such as an HA tag, GST or histidine. Recombinantly produced protein may also be expressed as a fusion protein containing an epitope which can be labelled with an antibody. Alternatively, an antibody against the proteins can be obtained using conventional methodology.

[0115] In a further aspect of the invention, the labeling methods described above are used to identify the p11 binding site on the VGSC (and vice versa). Such methods will generally comprise the steps of producing a fragment of one or both proteins, and contacting said fragment with its binding partner (all or part of it) and determining whether binding occurs. Preferably one or both partners will be labelled and/or tagged to facilitate the detection of binding.

[0116] For example, in order to identify the binding site for p11 in the VGSC, small segments of the VGSC believed to contain said binding site may be tested.

[0117] Preferred fragments may be selected from the N-terminal intracellular domain of the VGSC, for example from amino acids 1 to 127 of the rat Nav1.8 sequence as given in SEQ ID NO: 2. Preferably fragments represent sequences which are believed to be either unique to the channel, or are at least well conserved among VGSCs. Preferred fragments of the Nav 1.8 channel of SEQ ID NO: 2 may include amino acid positions 1 to25,26to50and 51 to 127.

[0118] As described in the Examples below, it appears that the binding site for p11 on the rat Nav1.8 channel lies in the N-terminal intracellular domain between amino acids 53 and 127 (with reference to SEQ ID NO: 2), and preferably between amino acids 75 and 102. Similarly, the rat p11 protein binds to the rat Nav1.8 channel via a region at amino acids 33 to 77 (with reference to SEQ ID NO: 4). Similar methods may be used to localise or identify binding sites in other VGSCs or p11 peptides.

[0119] Binding fragments can be identified using the GST “pull down assay”. This is described in more detail in the Examples hereinafter, wherein rat p11 protein produced in COS-7 cells by lipofection was mixed with fragments of SNS (Nav1.8) N-terminal which were fused to GST made in bacteria. These protein complexes are collected by glutathione beads and p11 is recovered only when the VGSC fragment has one or more binding site(s) for it. In other embodiments, co-immunoprecipitation or an overlay assay can be done in place or in addition to the “pull down” assay.

[0120] After narrowing down to one (or more) of the N-terminal fragments, the binding site can be further investigated e.g. using point mutations by recombinant PCR or a uracil containing vector system (Journal of Physiology (1999) 516.2, 433-446 cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of the tetrodotoxin-resistant voltage-dependent sodium channel SNS. E. M. Fitzgerald, K. Okuse, J. N. Wood, A. C. Dolphin, S. J. Moss). Since the target cDNA (e.g. corresponding to a fragment described above of about one third of N-terminal domain) may be fairly short, recombinant PCR may be preferred. Mutated N-terminal fragments may again be tested e.g. in the GST “pull down” assay, to precisely identify the interaction site between the VGSC and p11.

[0121] Once identified the binding site may be modeled in 3 dimensions to produce mimetics. Alternatively it may be used directly e.g. as a binding partner (optionally in phage display) to screen for compounds.

[0122] Assay for Modulators of Interaction

[0123] In a further aspect the present invention provides an assay for a modulator of the functional expression of VGSC in a cell, which assay comprises the steps of:

[0124] a) bringing into contact a VGSC, a p11 peptide, and a putative modulator compound under conditions where the VGSC and the p11, in the absence of modulator, are capable of forming a complex; and

[0125] b) measuring the degree of inhibition of complex formation caused by said modulator compound.

[0126] The present invention further provides an assay for a modulator of the functional expression of a VGSC in a cell, which assay comprises the steps of:

[0127] a) bringing into contact a VGSC, a p11 peptide, and a putative modulator compound under conditions where the VGSC and the p11, in the absence of modulator, are capable of forming a complex; and

[0128] b) exposing the VGSC to a stimulus such as to produce to a sodium current across a membrane in which the VGSC is present,

[0129] c) measuring the degree of inhibition of the current caused by said modulator compound.

[0130] An inhibition in the current indicates that the compound is a potential modulator of VGSC activity. Such a compound may have therapeutic use in the treatment or prevention of conditions associated with VGSC activity, as described in more detail below.

[0131] One assay format which is widely used in the art to study the interaction of two proteins is a two-hybrid assay. This assay may be adapted for use in the present invention. A two-hybrid assay comprises the expression in a host cell of the two proteins, one being a fusion protein comprising a DNA binding domain (DBD), such as the yeast GAL4 binding domain, and the other being a fusion protein comprising an activation domain, such as that from GAL4 or VP16. In such a case the host cell (which may be bacterial, yeast, insect or mammalian, particularly yeast or mammalian) will carry a reporter gene construct with a promoter comprising a DNA binding elements compatible with the DBD. The reporter gene may be a reporter gene such as chloramphenical acetyl transferase, luciferase, green fluorescent protein (GFP) and β-galactosidase, with luciferase being particularly preferred.

[0132] Two-hybrid assays may be in accordance with those disclosed by Fields and Song, 1989. Nature 340; 245-246. In such an assay the DNA binding domain (DBD) and the transcriptional activation domain (TAD) of the yeast GAL4 transcription factor are fused to the first and second molecules respectively whose interaction is to be investigated. A functional GAL4 transcription factor is restored only when two molecules of interest interact. Thus, interaction of the molecules may be measured by the use of a reporter gene operably linked to a GAL4 DNA binding site which is capable of activating transcription of said reporter gene.

[0133] Thus two hybrid assays may be performed in the presence of a potential modulator compound and the effect of the modulator will be reflected in the change in transcription level of the reporter gene construct compared to the transcription level in the absence of a modulator.

[0134] Host cells in which the two-hybrid assay may be conducted include mammalian, insect and yeast cells, with yeast cells (such as S. cerivisiae and S. pombe) being particularly preferred.

[0135] The interaction between p11 and a VGSC may also be assessed in mammalian cells. Cells or cell lines are derived which (over) express the VGSC in a zero p11 background or in the background of endogenously expressed p11 or in the background of (over)expressed p11. This can be done by (co)transfecting the VGSC with or without p11 into the cell. Any cell may be chosen and VGSC expression and/or p11 expression may be transient or stable. The effect of p11 on the VGSC can be determined by comparing ion flux across the channel in cells (over)expressing p11 with those that do not (over)express p11 or show low levels of p11 expression. Other ways of measuring the effect of p11 on the VGSC are by assaying the extent of membrane localisation of the VGSC in whole cells or in isolated membranes. VGSC localisation can be assessed by antibody staining in cellular immunofluorescence assays, or by western blotting of membrane fractions or by toxin binding on whole cells or membrane fractions. The interaction can also be derived in co-immunoprecipitation assays of p11 and VGSC. Inhibitors of the interaction will inhibit the functionality or the membrane localisation of VGSC, or the extent of co-immunoprecipitation between p11 and VGSC in the cells (over)expressing p11.

[0136] Another assay format measures directly, in vivo or in vitro, the interaction between p11 and the VGSC by labelling one of these proteins with a detectable label, as described above, and bringing it into contact with the other protein which has been optionally immobilised on a solid support, either prior to or after proteins have been brought into contact with each other.

[0137] The protein which is optionally immobilized on a solid support may be immobilized using an antibody against that protein bound to a solid support or via other technologies which are known per se. In the Examples which follow a preferred in vitro interaction is illustrated which utilises a fusion protein of the SNS sodium channel (Nav1.8) fused to glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Such a fusion protein may be immobilized on glutathione sepharose or agarose beads.

[0138] In an in vitro assay format of the type described above the putative inhibitor compound can be assayed by determining its ability to diminish the amount of labelled p11 (e.g. the GFP-fusion described hereinafter) which binds to the immobilized (e.g. GST-SNS) sodium channel. This may be determined by fractionating the glutathione beads by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Alternatively, the beads may be rinsed to remove unbound protein and the amount of protein which has bound can be determined by counting the amount of label present in, for example, a suitable scintillation counter.

[0139] Another assay format is dissociation enhanced lanthanide fluorescent immunoassay (DELFIA) (Ogata et al, 1992). This is a solid phase based system for measuring the interaction of two macromolecules. Typically one molecule (either VGSC or p11) is immobilised to the surface of a multi well plate and the other molecule is added in solution to this. Detection of the bound partner is achieved by using a label s consisting of a chelate of a rare earth metal. This label can be directly attached to the interacting molecule or may be introduced to the complex via an antibody to the molecule or to the molecules epitope tag. Alternatively, the molecule may be attached to biotin and a streptavidin-rare earth chelate used as the label. The rare earth used in the label may be europium, samarium, terbium or dysprosium. After washing to remove unbound label, a detergent containing low pH buffer is added to dissociate the rare earth metal from the chelate. The highly fluorescent metal ions are then quantitated by time resolved fluorimetry. A number of labelled reagents are commercially available for this technique, including streptavidin, antibodies against glutathione-S-transferase and against hexahistidine.

[0140] In an alternative mode, the one of the two proteins may be labelled with a fluorescent donor moiety and the other labelled with an acceptor which is capable of reducing the emission from the donor. This allows an assay according to the invention to be conducted by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). In this mode, the fluorescence signal of the donor will be altered when the two proteins interact. The presence of a candidate modulator compound which modulates the interaction will increase or decrease the amount of unaltered fluorescence signal of the donor.

[0141] FRET is a technique known per se in the art and thus the precise donor and acceptor molecules and the means by which they are linked to the p11 and a VGSC protein may be accomplished by reference to the literature.

[0142] The interaction between a VGSC and p11 may also be measured by fluorescence polarisation. Typically, binding partners are obtained as isolated peptides through chemical synthesis or as recombinant peptides or as purified peptides from tissue or cell sources. Full length p11 or fragments thereof may be employed in combination with VGSC peptides representing, for example, the full N-terminal cytoplasmic portion or parts thereof. For example, in the case of the rat Nav1.8 channel, a suitable fragment may comprise amino acids 53 to 127 or 75 to 102 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In the case of the rat p11 protein, suitable fragments may comprise amino acids 33 to 77 of SEQ ID NO: 4.

[0143] Either of the two peptides in the assay is labelled with a suitable label, typically a fluorescent label. The fluorescent peptide is placed in a sample tube and monochromatic light is passed through a polarizing filter onto the sample tube. The fluorophore will be excited by the polarised light bundle and the emitted light is measured. The emitted light will be scattered in all directions, because of the rotational behaviour of the small peptide in solution. This rotational behaviour changes when the peptide interacts with its larger binding partner, resulting in retention of the polarisation and reduced scatter of the emitted light. Inhibitors will is be screened by reading out the changes in rotational energy of the complex from the degree of polarisation of the emitted light.

[0144] Suitable fluorescent donor moieties are those capable of transferring fluorogenic energy to another fluorogenic molecule or part of a compound and include, but are not limited to, coumarins and related dyes such as fluoresceins, rhodols and rhodamines, resorufins, cyanine dyes, bimanes, acridines, isoindoles, dansyl dyes, aminophthalic hydrazines such as luminol and isoluminol derivatives, aminophthalimides, aminonaphthalimides, aminobenzofurans, aminoquinolines, dicyanohydroquinones, and europium and terbium complexes and related compounds.

[0145] Suitable acceptors include, but are not limited to, coumarins and related fluorophores, xanthenes such as fluoresceins, rhodols and rhodamines, resorufins, cyanines, difluoroboradiazaindacenes, and phthalocyanines.

[0146] A preferred donor is fluorescein and preferred acceptors include rhodamine and carbocyanine. The isothiocyanate derivatives of these fluorescein and rhodamine, available from Aldrich Chemical Company Ltd, Giilingham, Dorset, UK, may be used to label the p11 and ER. For attachment of carbocyanine, see for example Guo et al, J. Biol. Chem., 270; 27562-8, 1995.

[0147] Rather than using fluorescence detection, it may be preferred in assay formats to detect labels and interactions using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), or surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) (see e.g. WO97/05280).

[0148] An alternative assay format is a Scintillation proximity assay (SPA, Amersham Biosciences, UK). SPA uses microscopic beads containing scintillant that can be stimulated to emit light. This stimulation event only occurs when radiolabelled molecules of interest are bound to the surface of the bead. Specific bead types may be produced with different coatings for specific applications including; receptor-ligand binding, enzyme assays, radioimmunoassays, protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions.

[0149] Modulators of Interaction

[0150] For the screening methods of the invention, any compounds may be used which may have an effect on VGSC functional expression. Such an effect may, for example, be mediated by a direct effect on the channel, or indirectly by blocking or preventing the interaction between p11 and the VGSC.

[0151] In one aspect, a compound for use in downregulating functional expression of a VGSC may be a compound which binds specifically to the VGSC and/or the p11 peptide. For example, such a compound may bind to the intracellular domain of the VGSC, such as in the region of amino acids 5 to 127 or 75 to 102 of the rat Nav 1.8 sodium channel as given in SEQ D NO: 2, or an equivalent region of a variant channel, or may bind in the region of amino acids 33 to 77 of a p11 peptide as given in SEQ D NO: 4, or an equivalent region of a variant p11 peptide. A compound may therefore prevent binding between the VGSC and the p11 peptide and thereby prevent the enhancement of VGSC functional expression normally caused by p11.

[0152] Compounds (putative VGSC modulators) which may be used may be natural or synthetic chemical compounds used in drug screening programmes. Extracts of plants which contain several characterised or uncharacterised components may also be used. In preferred embodiments the substances may be provided e.g. as the product of a combinatorial library such as are now well known in the art (see e.g. Newton (1997) Expert Opinion Therapeutic Patents, 7(10): 1183-1194). The amount of putative modulator compound which may be added to an assay of the invention will normally be determined by trial and error depending upon the type of compound used. Typically, from about 0.01 to 100 nM concentrations of putative modulator compound may be used, for example from 0.1 to 10 nM. Modulator compounds may be those which either agonise or antagonise the interaction. Antagonists (inhibitors) of the interaction are particularly desirable.

[0153] In a further aspect, the present invention provides peptide compounds, and processes for devising and producing such compounds, which are based on the portions of the VGSC and p11 which interact with each other e.g. the regions described in the Examples below.

[0154] Modulators which are putative inhibitor compounds can be derived from the p11 and VGSC protein sequences. Peptide fragments of from 5 to 40 amino acids, for example from 6 to 10 amino acids from the region of p11 and VGSC which are responsible for the interaction between these proteins may be tested for their ability to disrupt this interaction. For example, such peptides may be derived from the intracellular domain of the VGSC such as the region of amino acids 53 to 127 or 75 to 102 of the rat Nav1.8 sodium channel as given in SEQ ID NO: 2, or from amino acids 33 to 77 of the rat p11 protein as given in SEQ ID NO: 4.

[0155] Antibodies directed to the site of interaction in either protein form a further class of putative inhibitor compounds. Candidate inhibitor antibodies may be characterised and their binding regions determined to provide single chain antibodies and fragments thereof which are responsible for disrupting the interaction between p11 and VGSC. A suitable antibody may bind to either the VGSC or the p11 peptide, and thereby prevent or block the interaction between these molecules.

[0156] Antibodies may be raised against specific epitopes of the VGSC or p11 peptide of the invention. For example, antibodies may be raised specifically against those regions, as described above, which are involved in the interaction between the VGSC and the p11 peptide.

[0157] For the purposes of this invention, the term “antibody”, unless specified to the contrary, includes fragments which bind a VGSC or p11 peptide of the invention. Such fragments include Fv, F(ab′) and F(ab′)₂ fragments, as well as single chain antibodies. Furthermore, the antibodies and fragment thereof may be chimeric antibodies, CDR-grafted antibodies or humanised antibodies.

[0158] Antibodies of the invention can be produced by any suitable method. Means for preparing and characterising antibodies are well known in the art, see for example Harlow and Lane (1988) “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. For example, an antibody may be produced by raising antibody in a host animal against the whole polypeptide or a fragment thereof, for example an antigenic epitope thereof, herein after the “immunogen”.

[0159] A method for producing a polyclonal antibody comprises immunising a suitable host animal, for example an experimental animal, with the immunogen and isolating immunoglobulins from the animal's serum. The animal may therefore be inoculated with the immunogen, blood subsequently removed from the animal and the IgG fraction purified.

[0160] A method for producing a monoclonal antibody comprises immortalising cells which produce the desired antibody. Hybridoma cells may be produced by fusing spleen cells from an inoculated experimental animal with tumour cells (Kohler and Milstein (1975) Nature 256, 495-497).

[0161] An immortalized cell producing the desired antibody may be selected by a conventional procedure. The hybridomas may be grown in culture or injected intraperitoneally for formation of ascites fluid or into the blood stream of an allogenic host or immunocompromised host. Human antibody may be prepared by in vitro immunisation of human lymphocytes, followed by transformation of the lymphocytes with Epstein-Barr virus.

[0162] For the production of both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, the experimental animal is suitably a goat, rabbit, rat or mouse. If desired, the immunogen may be administered as a conjugate in which the immunogen is coupled, for example via a side chain of one of the amino acid residues, to a suitable carrier. The carrier molecule is typically a physiologically acceptable carrier. The antibody obtained may be isolated and, if desired, purified.

[0163] An antibody, or other compound, “specifically binds” to a protein when it binds with preferential or high affinity to the protein for which it is specific but does substantially bind not bind or binds with only low affinity to other proteins. A variety of protocols for competitive binding or immunoradiometric assays to determine the specific binding capability of an antibody are well known in the art (see for example Maddox et al, J. Exp. Med. 158, 1211-1226, 1993). Such immunoassays typically involve the formation of complexes between the specific protein and its antibody and the measurement of complex formation.

[0164] In a further aspect, decreased functional expression of a VGSC may be achieved by inhibiting the expression from the VGSC gene. For example, down-regulation of expression of a target gene may be achieved using anti-sense technology or RNA interference.

[0165] In using anti-sense genes or partial gene sequences to down-regulate gene expression a nucleotide sequence is placed under the control of a promoter in a “reverse orientation” such that transcription yields RNA which is complementary to normal mRNA transcribed from the “sense” strand of the target gene. See, for example, Smith et al,(1988) Nature 334, 724-726. Such methods would use a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to the coding sequence. Further options for down regulation of gene expression include the use of ribozymes, e.g. hammerhead ribozymes, which can catalyse the site-specific cleavage of RNA, such as mRNA (see e.g. Jaeger (1997) The new world of ribozymes Curr Opin Struct Biol 7:324-335, or Gibson & Shillitoe (1997) Ribozymes: their functions and strategies form their use Mol Biotechnol 7: 242-251.)

[0166] RNA interference is based on the use of small double stranded RNA (dsRNA). duplexes known as small interfering or silencing RNAs (siRNAs). Such molecules are capable of inhibiting the expression of a target gene that they share sequence identity or homology to. Typically, the dsRNA may be introduced into cells by techniques such as microinjection or transfection. Methods of RNA interference are described in, for example, Hannon (2002) RNA Interference, Nature 418: 244-251 and Elbashir et al (2001) Duplexes of 21-nucleotide RNAs mediate RNA interferenec in cultured mammalian cells, Nature 411: 494-498.

[0167] Specificity of Modulation

[0168] Where any of the methods of identifying modulators of the VGSC utilizes a cell-based system, such methods may further include the step of testing the viability of the cells in the assay e.g. by use of a lactate dehydrogenase assay kit (Sigma). This step may provide an indication of any interference by the test agent of vital cellular functions.

[0169] Therapeutic Compositions and their use

[0170] As used hereafter the term “VGSC modulator” is intended to encompass any and all of the above modulator compounds which may be identified using any of the assays or design methods of the invention. Such VGSC modulators identified by the methods of the present invention may be isolated, purified, formulated in a composition, such as a pharmaceutical composition, and/or used in therapy as described below.

[0171] VGSC modulators as described above may be provided isolated and/or purified from their natural environment, in substantially pure or homogeneous form, or free or substantially free of other materials from their source or origin. Where used herein, the term “isolated” encompasses all of these possibilities. They may optionally be labeled or conjugated to other compounds.

[0172] VGSC modulators may be useful in the treatment or prophylaxis of a wide range of is disorders. Thus in a further aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a VGSC modulator peptide or encoding nucleic acid molecule and its use in methods of therapy or diagnosis.

[0173] In a further aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more VGSC modulators as defined above and its use in methods of therapy or diagnosis.

[0174] In further aspects, the present invention provides the above VGSC modulators and nucleic acid molecules for use in the preparation of medicaments for therapy.

[0175] In one aspect, the invention includes a method of producing analgesia in a mammalian subject, which method includes administering to the subject a VGSC modulator of the present invention. Modulators of the channel may prevent transmission of impulses along sensory neurons and thereby be useful in the treatment or prevention of acute, chronic or neuropathic pain.

[0176] Acute pain is temporary, generally lasting a few seconds or longer. Acute pain usually starts suddenly and is generally a signal of rapid-onset injury to the body or intense smooth muscle activity. Acute pain can rapidly evolve into chronic pain. Chronic pain generally occurs over a longer time period such as weeks, months or years.

[0177] The VGSC modulators of the invention may be used in the treatment or prevention of acute or chronic pain, or to prevent acute pain evolving into chronic pain. Treatment of pain is intended to include any level of relief from the symptoms of pain, from a decrease in the level of pain to complete loss of the pain. Prevention includes the prevention of the onset of pain, and the prevention of the worsening of pain, for example the worsening of pain symptoms or the progression from acute pain to chronic pain.

[0178] Examples of types of chronic pain which may be treated or prevented with the VGSC modulators of the present invention include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathic pain, cancer pain, trigeminal neuralgia, primary and secondary hyperalgesia, inflammatory pain, nociceptive pain, tabes dorsalis, phantom limb pain, spinal cord injury pain, central pain, post-herpetic pain and HIV pain, noncardiac chest pain, irritable bowel syndrome and pain associated with bowel disorders.

[0179] In a further aspect there is provided a method of preventing progression of pain in a subject at risk for developing such pain, comprising administering to the subject a VGSC modulator of the present invention.

[0180] A composition may be administered alone or in combination with other treatments (e.g. treatments having analgesic effect such as NSAIDS), either simultaneously, separately or sequentially, dependent upon the condition to be treated.

[0181] The VGSC modulators can be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions. These compositions may comprise, in addition to one of the above substances, a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, buffer, stabiliser or other materials well known to those skilled in the art. Such materials should be non-toxic and should not interfere with the efficacy of the active ingredient. The precise nature of the carrier or other material may depend on the route of administration, e.g. oral, intravenous, cutaneous or subcutaneous, nasal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal routes.

[0182] Pharmaceutical compositions for oral administration may be in tablet, capsule, powder or liquid form. A tablet may include a solid carrier such as gelatin or an adjuvant. Liquid pharmaceutical compositions generally include a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, animal or vegetable oils, mineral oil or synthetic oil. Physiological saline solution, dextrose or other saccharide solution or glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol may be included.

[0183] For intravenous, cutaneous or subcutaneous injection, or injection at the site of affliction, the active ingredient will be in the form of a parenterally acceptable aqueous solution which is pyrogen-free and has suitable pH, isotonicity and stability. Those of relevant skill in the art are well able to prepare suitable solutions using, for example, isotonic vehicles such as Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, Lactated Ringer's Injection. Preservatives, stabilisers, buffers, antioxidants and/or other additives may be included, as required.

[0184] For delayed release, the modulators may be included in a pharmaceutical composition for formulated for slow release, such as in microcapsules formed from biocompatible polymers or in liposomal carrier systems according to methods known in the art.

[0185] For continuous release of peptides, the peptide may be covalently conjugated to a water soluble polymer, such as a polylactide or biodegradable hydrogel derived from an amphipathic block copolymer, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,840. Collagen-based matrix implants, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,841, are also useful for sustained delivery of peptide therapeutics. Also useful, particularly or subdermal slow-release delivery to perineural regions, is a composition that includes a biodegradable polymer that is self-curing and that forms an implant in situ, after delivery in liquid form. Such a composition is described, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,202.

[0186] Peptides (for example such as those designed or discovered to inhibit the interaction of p11 and a VGSC as described above) may preferably be administered by transdermal iontophoresis. One particularly useful means for delivering compound to perineural sites is transdermal delivery. This form of delivery can be effected according to methods known in the art. Generally, transdermal delivery involves the use of a transdermal “patch” which allows for slow delivery of compound to a selected skin region. Although such patches are generally used to provide systemic delivery of compound, in the context of the present invention, such site-directed delivery can be expected to provide increased concentration of compound in selected regions of neurite proliferation. Examples of transdermal patch delivery systems are provided by U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,766 (fluid-imbibing osmotically driven system), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,610 (rate controlled transdermal delivery system).

[0187] For transdermal delivery of peptides transdermal delivery may preferably be carried out using iontophoretic methods, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,109 (electrolytic transdermal delivery system), and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,502 (electrically powered iontophoretic delivery device).

[0188] For transdermal delivery, it may be desirable to include permeation enhancing substances, such as fat soluble substances (e.g., aliphatic carboxylic acids, aliphatic alcohols), or water soluble substances (e.g., alkane polyols such as ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, glycerol, propylene glycol, and the like). In addition, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,497, a “super water-absorbent resin” may be added to transdermal formulations to further enhance transdermal delivery. Examples of such resins include, but are not limited to, polyacrylates, saponified vinyl acetate-acrylic acid ester copolymers, cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol-maleic anhydride copolymers, saponified polyacrylonitrile graft polymers, starch acrylic acid graft polymers, and the like. Such formulations may be provided as occluded dressings to the region of interest, or may be provided in one or more of the transdermal patch configurations described above.

[0189] In yet another embodiment, the compound is administered by epidural injection. Membrane permeation enhancing means can include, for example, liposomal encapsulation of the peptide, addition of a surfactant to the composition, or addition of an ion-pairing agent. Also encompassed by the invention is a membrane permeability enhancing means that includes administering to the subject a hypertonic dosing solution effective to disrupt meningeal barriers.

[0190] The modulators can also be administered by slow infusion. This method is particularly useful, when administration is via the intrathecal or epidural routes mentioned above. Known in the art are a number of implantable or body-mountable pumps useful in delivering compound at a regulated rate. One such pump described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,652 is a body-mountable pump that can be used to deliver compound at a tonic flow rate or at periodic pulses. An injection site directly beneath the pump is provided to deliver compound to the area of need, for example, to the perineural region.

[0191] In other treatment methods, the modulators may be given orally or by nasal insufflation, according to methods known in the art. For administration of peptides, it may be desirable to incorporate such peptides into microcapsules suitable for oral or nasal delivery, according to methods known in the art.

[0192] Whether it is a peptide, antibody, nucleic acid molecule, small molecule or other pharmaceutically-useful compound according to the present invention that is to be given to an individual, administration is preferably in a “prophylactically effective amount” or a “therapeutically effective amount” (as the case may be, although prophylaxis may be considered therapy), this being sufficient to show benefit to the individual. The actual amount administered, and rate and time-course of administration, will depend on the nature and severity of what is being treated.

[0193] Prescription of treatment, e.g. decisions on dosage etc, is within the responsibility of general practitioners and other medical doctors, and typically takes account of the disorder to be treated, the condition of the individual patient, the site of delivery, the method of administration and other factors known to practitioners. Examples of the techniques and protocols mentioned above can be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 16th edition, Osol, A. (ed), 1980.

[0194] Instead of administering these agents directly, they could be produced in the target cells by expression from an encoding gene introduced into the cells, e.g. in a viral vector (a variant of the VDEPT technique- see below). The vector could be targeted to the specific cells to be treated, or it could contain regulatory elements which are switched on more or less selectively by the target cells.

[0195] Alternatively, the agent could be administered in a precursor form, for conversion to the active form by an activating agent produced in, or targeted to, the cells to be treated. This type of approach is sometimes known as ADEPT or VDEPT; the former involving targeting the activating agent to the cells by conjugation to a cell-specific antibody, while the latter involves producing the activating agent, e.g. an enzyme, in a vector by expression from encoding DNA in a viral vector (see for example, EP-A-415731 and WO90/07936).

[0196] The expression of p11 in an organism may be correlated with the functional expression of a VGSC in the organism, and this correlation may form the basis of diagnosis of diseases related to inappropriate VGSC expression.

[0197] The invention will now be further described with reference to the following non-limiting Figures and Examples. Other embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art in the light of these. Any reference mentioned herein, inasmuch as it may be required to supplement the common general knowledge of the person skilled in the art in practicing the invention, is specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

EXAMPLES Materials and Methods

[0198] Yeast Two-Hybrid Screen

[0199] A two-hybrid interaction screen was performed with the N-terminal intracellular domain (amino acid position 1-127) of Na_(v)1.8 and a rat P1 DRG cDNA library as described¹¹. The bait plasmid was generated by PCR with rat Na_(v)1.8 cDNA as a template with a forward primer (5′-gcgaattcatggagctcccctttg-3′) and a reverse primer (5′-tatagcggccgctttgatggctgttcttc-3′). The amplified fragment was ligated into pEG202 at EcoRI-NotI sites as an in-frame fusion with the LexA-DNA binding domain.

[0200] A cDNA library from postnatal day 1 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) was generated¹¹. The DRG library cDNAs were expressed as in-frame fusions with the Gal4 transcriptional activation domain. Approximately 5×10⁶ yeast transformants were screened for β-galactosidase activity and growth in the absence of leucine. and five identical positive clones encoding a full length p11 were identified. The clone included a 51 bp 5′-UTR, a 288 bp coding region, and a 450 bp 3′-UTR of the rat p11 gene. To verify that p11 interacts specifically with the N-terminal intracellular domain of Na_(v)1.8, the rescued p11-encoding plasmid DNA was re-introduced into other strains of yeast containing different intracellular domains of Na_(v)1.8 as baits. Direct interaction between p11 and N-terminal domain of Na_(v)1.8 in vitro was assessed using GST pull down assays¹². Fuller details of experimental methods are present in supplementary information.

[0201] GST Pull-Down Assay

[0202] The segment encoding the N-terminus of rat Na_(v)1.8 (amino acid position 1-127) was amplified by PCR and cloned in-frame into the EcoRI/NotI sites of pGEX-5X-1 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). The GST/Na_(v)1.8 N-terminus fusion protein, designated as GST-SNS(I), was produced in E. coli BL-21 and affinity purified on glutathione-sepharose beads. Original pGEX-5X-1 was used to produce GST control protein.

[0203] Full length rat cDNA for p11 in yeast expression vector pJG4-5 was subcloned as the NcoI-XbaI fragment into the pBS500 expression vector which results in GFP-p11 fusion protein expression driven by elongation factor 2α promoter. The resultant plasmid was designated as pBS-GFP/p11. COS-7 cells were transfected with pBS-GFP/p11 by lipofection. GFP-p11 fusion protein was extracted from transfected COS-7 cells by lysis buffer (4% SDS, 10 mM sodium phosphate. pH 7.4) 3 days after transfection. The lysate was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm at 4° C. for 10 mins. The supernatant was retained and centrifuged at 14,000 rpm at 4° C. for 30 min. The supernatant was then transferred to a macrosep 30K omega centrifugal concentrator (Pall Filtron) and 10 ml ice-cold Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), pH 7.4, was added. It was centrifuged at 5,000 rpm for 2 hours. The filtrate was discarded and the residue, containing the solubilized protein, was used in the pull-down assay experiment. GFP expression plasmid, pBS-GFP, was used for production of GFP protein for a negative control.

[0204] To examine the binding of p11 to the N-terminus of Na_(v)1.8 in vitro, glutathione-sepharose beads pre-incubated with purified GST, serving as control, or GST-SNS(I) were incubated at 4° C. overnight with GFP-p11 fusion protein or GFP protein extracted from transfected COS cells in PBS. After intensive washing with ice-cold PBS, the bound proteins were denatured in sample buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl pH 6.8, 4% SDS, 0.2% Bromophenol Blue, 20% Glycerol. 200 mM DDT), separated by 10% SDS-PAGE, and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane (Hybond ECL; Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). The membrane was blocked for 1 h in 5% nonfat dry mirnl in PBS-T at room temperature (0.1% Tween-20 in PBS, pH7.4). Primary anti-GFP antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) in 1:800 dilution was applied for 1 hr at room temperature. Secondary antibody (horseradish peroxidase-conjugated sheep anti-mouse IgG, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) in 1:2000 dilution was applied for 1 hr at room temperature. ECL Western Blotting Detection Reagents (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech) was applied according to the manufacturer's instructions and the blot was exposed to BioMax film (Kodak).

[0205] Northern Blot Analysis

[0206] Total RNA was isolated from various rat tissues by acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction method¹⁶ and fractioned by electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gel in 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) after glyoxylation. RNA was blotted onto hybond N⁺ nylon membrane in 20×SSC solution for 6 hours and fixed by UV irradiation. The membrane was stained with methylene blue to confirm even recoveries of RNA. Thereafter, the membrane was prehybridized and hybridized with ³²P-labeled p11 DNA probe (50 ng, specific activity 2×10⁹ c.p.m. per μg DNA) at 43° C. in hybridization buffer (50% formamide, 6×SSC, 50 mM NaH₂PO₄, 1 mM EDTA, 1% SDS, 2.5× Denhardt's solution, 250 μg herring sperm DNA, pH 6.5) for 18 hrs. The ³²P-labeled p11 DNA probe was generated from 284 bp PCR fragment of p11 (amino acid position 3-127) using Klenow enzyme and random primer in the presence of [α-³²P] ATP at 37° C. for 15 min. Unincorporated nucleotides were removed using the QIA quick nucleotide removal kit (Qiagen). Hybridized membrane was washed with 0.2×SSC/0.1% SDS at 53° C. and exposed to BioMax film (Kodak) at −70° C.

[0207] RT-PCR

[0208] DRG neurons from 2 weeks old rats were cultured in DNEM containing 3.3 ng/ml aphidicoline for 7 days. Cultures were supplemented with NGF (50 ng/ml) or grown in the absence of NGF and in the presence of rabbit anti-NGF antiserum. Total RNA extracted from the culture was treated with DNase I and cDNA was synthesized with Superscript using randam hexamer. PCR (94° C., 1 min; 58 ° C., 1 min 30 sec; 72° C., 1 min 30 sec; 50 μl) was started with the primer pair specific for p11 (284 bp), 5′-CATCCCAAATGGAGCATG-3′, 5′-CTACTTCTTCTGCTTCATGTGTACTAC -3′. After 2 cycles, the primer pair for CGRP (222 bp), 5′-GGTGTGGTGAAGGACAAC-3′, 5′-CATAGGGAGAAGGGTTTC-3′ was added. In separate tubes, PCR was started with the primer pair for CGRP, and the primer pair for cyclophilin (300 bp), 5′-ACCCCACCGTGTTCTTCGAC-3′, 5′-CATTTGCCATGGACAAGATG-3′, were added to the reaction 3 cycles after the start. Ten μl of the PCR solution was collected every 3 cycles and applied for 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis and the PCR products were visualized by ethidium bromide. The intensity of each band was analyzed using NIH Image program and plotted. The linear range of amplification (p11, 32-38 cycles; CGRP, 30-36 cycles; cyclophilin 27-33 cycles) has been identified. The midpoint of this range (p11 , 35 cycles; CGRP, 33 cycles; cyclophilin, 30 cycles) were used for the RT-PCR experiments and 1 μl of the reverse transcribed solutions was used for PCR.

[0209] Immunofluorescence Analysis

[0210] A stably transformed CHO cell line (CHO-SNS22. cells) that expresses rat Na_(v)1.8 protein in the cytosol was transfected with the expression plasmid pBS-GFP/p11 by lipofection. The CHO-SNS22 cell line was kept in Nutrient Mixture F-12 (Ham) medium (GibcoBRL) with 2.5% fetal bovine serum and 1 mg/rml Geneticin G418 sulphate. One day prior to transfection, cells were subcultured and plated in 35 mm dish containing F-12 medium with 0.5% fetal bovine serum and 1 mg/ml G418. Prior to transfection, cells in 35 mm dish were rinsed twice with serum-free F-12 medium. 1.1 μg of DNA was mixed with 5 μl of Lipofectamine (GibcoBRL) and incubated at room temperature for 30 min. The mixture was added to the pre-rinsed cells and incubated at 37° C. for 2 hours. DNA/lipofectamine mixture was replaced with F-12 medium with 0.5% fetal bovine serum and 1 mg/ml G418 after 2 hours. Three days after transfection, the cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for 15 min on ice and subsequently incubated with anti-SNS polyclonal antibody (SNS11). The cells were washed with PBS and incubated with rhodamine-labelled anti-rabbit IgG before analysis with a confocal microscope.

[0211] In Situ Hybridisation

[0212] A 284 bp p11 PCR fragment was subcloned into pGEM-T Easy (Promega), and DIG-UTP labelled sense or antisense cRNA probe were generated using T7 RNA polymerase for in situ hybridisation studies. Frozen DRG sections (10 μm thick) were fixed for 15 min in 4% paraformaldehyde on ice and were acetylated in 0.1M triethanolamine, 0.25% acetic anhydride for 10 min. Prehybridization was carried out in 50% formamide, 4×SSC, 100 μg/ml herring sperm DNA, 50 μg/ml tRNA, 2× Denhardt's solution at room temperature for 1 hr. Hybridization was carried out in the same buffer containing 50 ng/ml cRNA probe at 65° C. for 16 hrs. Sections were washed in 0.1×SSC at 72° C. and incubated with alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-digoxygenin antibody (Roche). The same sections were then stained with anti-Na_(v)1.8 polyclonal antibody (SNS11) followed by rhodamine-conjugated anti-rabbit is IgG antibody.

[0213] NGF Regulation of p11

[0214] DRG neurons from 2 week old rats were cultured with NGF (50 ng/ml) or grown in the absence of NGF and in the presence of rabbit anti-NGF antiserum. Total RNA extracted from the culture was treated with. DNase I and cDNA was synthesized with Superscript using randam hexamer. PCR was performed with the primer pair specific for p11 (284 bp), 5′-CATCCCAAATGGAGCATG-3′, 5′-CTACTTCTTCTGCTTCATGTGTACTAC-3′.

[0215] Transfection and Extraction of p11 in COS-7 Cells

[0216] COS-7 cells were transiently transfected with 20 μg of pBS-GFP/p11 by lipofection. Three days after the transfection, the cells were incubated in the lysis buffer (150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 0.5% DOC, 0.1% SDS, 50 mM Tris, pH 7.5) for 30 min on ice. The lysis buffer was centrifuged for 30 min at 10,000 g at 4° C. The supernatant was used for in vitro binding assay. GFP expression plasmid, pBS-GFP, was used for production of GFP protein as a negative control.

[0217] Expression of GST-SNS Sodium Channel Fusion Protein

[0218] cDNA for NH₂-terminal intracellular domain of rat SNS sodium channel was amplified by PCR using primers 5′-GGAATTCATGGAGCTCCCCTTTGCG-3′ and 5′-AATTGCGGCCGCAGACGCTTTGATGGCTGT-3′. The amplified fragment, corresponds to the amino acid position 1 to 127 of rat SNS sodium channel protein, was cloned into EcoRI/NotI sites in GST gene fusion vector pGEX-5X-l. The resultant expression vector coding GST/SNS sodium channel NH₂-terminal fusion protein was designated as pGEX-5X-1-SNS(I). pGEX-5X-1-SNS(I) was transformed into E. coli strain BL21, subsequently GST/SNS(I) fusion protein was affinity purified on glutathione-Sepharose beads. The glutathione-Sepharose/GST/SNS sodium channel complex was incubated with the extract obtained from COS-7 cells transfected with pBS-GFP/p11 in binding buffer (10% glycerol, 1 mM MgCl₂, 100 mM KCl, 0.5 mg/ml bovine serum albumin, 10 mM Tris, pH7.9) for 4 hr at 4° C. The bound proteins were denatured in sample buffer and separated by 12% SDS-PAGE. The GFP/SNS sodium channel(I) fusion protein was detected by immunoblotting with anti-HA antibody whose epitope tag is situated in the junction between GFP and SNS sodium channel NH₂-terminal protein. pGEX-5X-1 was used for production of GST protein as a negative control.

[0219] Electrophysiology

[0220] Membrane currents were recorded from CHO-SNS 22 cells using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The extracellular recording solution contained the following (in mM): NaCl (140), TEA Cl (10) HEPES (10), CaCl₂ (2.1), MgCl₂ (2.12), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) (0.5), KCl (7.5), tetrodotoxin (TTX) (250 nM). The solution was buffered to pH 7.2-3 with the addition of NaOH. The intracellular solution contained the following (in mM): CsCl (145), EGTA Na (3 (6)), Hepes (10), CaCl₂, (1.21), MgCl₂ (1.21), TEA Cl (10) and was buffered to pH 7.2-3 with the addition of CsOH. For recordings from neurons the extracellular solution was the same, except that NaCl was reduced to 43.3 mM with equivalent replacement of TEA-Cl and the addition of 20 μM CdCl2. In the intracellular recording solution, 10% of the CsCl was replaced by CsF, the MgCl replaced by 3 mM ATP (Mg) and the solution contained 500 mM GTP (Li) Chemicals were either ‘AnalaR’ (BDH, Merk Ltd.) or supplied by Sigma. Chemicals were either ‘AnalaR’ (BDH, Merk Ltd., Lutterworth, Leicestershire, UK.), or supplied by Sigma (Poole, Dorset, UK). TTX was obtained from Alomone labs (TCS Biologicals, Botolph Claydon, Bucks, UK). A minority of CHO—SNS 22 cells generate an endogenous tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-s) Na⁺ current (personal observation) which was eliminated from all recordings by including 250 nM TTX in the extracellular media. No inward currents were recorded in non-transfected cells under these circumstances.

[0221] Electrodes were fabricated from thin-wall glass capillaries (GC150TF-10; Harvard apparatus, Edenbridge, Kent, UK), and had an access resistance of 2-4 MΩ when filled with recording solution. Recordings were made using an Axopatch 200B is patch-clamp amplifier (Axon Instruments, Foster City, Calif., USA). Pulse protocols were generated and data stored to disk using pClamp6 software (Axon Instruments), running on a PC. CHO—SNS 22 cells were held at −90 mV. Voltage-clamp protocols incorporated a negative pre-pulse to −110 mV, and the cell was subsequently stepped to more depolarized potentials for 50 ms (up to a final value of +80 mV), in 10 mV increments.

[0222] All experiments were performed at room temperature.

[0223] Antisense Studies

[0224] The 309 bp NcoI fragment of p11 was cloned in 3′ to 5′ direction into Nco-I restriction site in pBS500 vector resulted in a expression system for a sense-GFP/antisense-p11 fusion RNA, pBS-GFP/AS(p11). 400 μg/ml of pBS-GFP/AS(p11) together with 0.5% Texas Red in injection buffer (118 mM KCl, 5 mM Hepes, 22.2 mM NaHCO₃, 1.2 mM MgCl₂, pH 7) were injected into nuclei of 2 week old rats DRG small diameter neurons using Eppendorf microinjector. During the injection, the DMEM was replaced by a calcium free buffer (PBS and containing 10 mM glucose and 2.4 mM MgCl,). After completion of the injections, the calcium free buffer is replaced by DMEM containing 3.3 ng/ml aphidicolin and the neurons were incubated for 3 days at 37° C. in CO₂ incubator prior to electrophysiology recordings.

[0225] Immunofluorescence analysis showed that injection of antisense p11 resulted in a loss of immunoreactive p11 compared to uninjected cells.

[0226] Molecular Cloning of N-terminus Na_(v)1.8 for Binding Assay to p11

[0227] cDNA of the Na_(v)1.8's N-terminus of α-subunit was cut into three fragments and cloned into pGEX-5X-1 vector (Amersham). The resulting constructs were named N1 (amino acids 1-25), N2 (a.a 26-50 ), and N3 (a.a 51-127).The primers used were designed to introduce an EcoRI restriction enzyme cut site in the 5′ direction and NotI in the 3′ direction. Forward primers: SNSI-F, 5′-GGAATTCATGGAGCTCCCCTTTGCG-3′ SNSI(N2)-F, 5′-GGAATTCAAGCAGATTGCTGCTCACCGC-3′ SNSI(N3)-F, 5′-GGAATTCCCCAGGCCTCAGCTGGACTTG-3′

[0228] Reverse primers: SNSI(N1)-R, 5′-AATTGCGGCCGCCTCGATCTCTGCCAGTGACTC-3′ SNSI(N2)-R, 5′-AATTGCGGCCGCCTTCTCGCCCTTGTCCTCCTG-3′ I-R, 5′-AATTGCGGCCGCAGACGCTTTGATGGCTGT-3′

[0229] EcoRI sites are underlined. NotI sites are boldfaced. PCR was carried out using SNS I—F/SNS I(N1)-R, SNS I(N2)-F/SNS I(N2)-R, SNS I(N3)-F/I—R primer pairs for N1, N2, and N3 fragments respectively. The following cycles were used: 25 cycles of 1 min at 94° C, followed by 1 min 30 sec at 55° C, and then 1 min 30 sec at 72° C. PCR products were digested with EcoRI and NotI and ligated into linearized pGEX-5X-1 vector. The resulting constructs were sequenced with forward primer 5′pGEX (5′-GGGCTGGCAAGCCACGTTTGGTG-3′) and reverse primer 3′pGEX (5′-CCGGGAGCTGCATGTGTCAGAGG-3′).

[0230] The N3 fragment was further cut into three smaller fragments to elucidate the exact binding site on Na_(v)1.8 intracellular loop I after GST pulldown assay has shown that p11 binds specifically to N3. The three fragments, named N3-1(a.a 51-73), N3-2 (a.a 74-103) and N3-3 (a.a 104-127) were cloned into pGEX-5X-1 vector as described above. Forward primers: N3-1-5′, 5′-GGAATTCCCCAGGCCTCAGCTGGACTTG-3′ N3-2-5′, 5′-GGAATTCCTGGTCGGGGAGCCCCTGGAG-3′ N3-3-5′, 5′-GGAATTCTTCAGTGCCACTTGGGCC-3′

[0231] Reverse primers: N3-1-3′, 5′-AATTGCGGCCGCTTCTGCTGGGAGCTC-3′ N3-2-3′, 5′-AATTGCGGCCGCTCTGGAAATGGTCCTGCT-3′

[0232] PCR was carried out using N3-1-5′/N3-1-3′, N3-2-5′/N3-2-3′, N3-3-3-5′/I—R primer sets for N3-1, N3-2, and N303 respectively. The same PCR cycles were used as described above.

Example 1 Identification of a Protein that Interacts with Rat Nav1.8

[0233] A rat sensory neuron cDNA library¹¹ was used to screen for proteins that interact with the N-terminal intracellular domain of rat Na_(v)1.8. Five identical positive clones encoding a full length p11 were identified through their interaction with the N-terminus of Na_(v)1.8. To test whether p11 binds to the N-terminal intracellular domain of Na_(v)1.8 in vitro, we expressed the GFP-p11 fusion protein in COS-7 cells, and expressed the N-terminal domain of Na_(v)1.8 as a GST fusion protein, GST-SNS(I). The COS cell lysates were incubated with affinity-purified GST and GST-SNS(I), the N-terminal domain of Na_(v)1.8 fused to GST, immobilized on glutathione-sepharose beads and were examined by imnunoblotting with anti-GFP antibodies. Purified GST or GST/SNS (I) did not pull down GFP protein. Purified GST did not pull down GFP/SNS (I),while GST/p11 efficiently pulled down the GFP/SNS (I) fusion protein. These data demonstrate that p11 binds directly to the NH₂-terminal of SNS sodium channel.

[0234] We examined the tissue distribution of the p11 transcript. Northern blot analysis showed high levels of expression of p11 mRNA in DRG, modest expression in heart and liver, and weak expression in brain isolated from 2 weeks old rats. RT-PCR showed a dramatic increase of p11 mRNA in cultured rat DRG neurons treated with nerve growth factor (NGF) which is known to cause decreases in thermal, chemical and mechanical thresholds of pain perception in animal models^(13,14). In situ hybridization was performed on a section of 2 weeks old rat DRG. An antisense p11 probe demonstrated strong staining in both small and large diameter neurons. Combined immunohistochemistry with anti-Na_(v)1.8 polyclonal antibody SNS11¹⁵ showed that most (>98%) of the Na_(v)1.8 positive cells also expressed p11 mRNA.

Example 2 p11 Regulates Translocation of SNS Sodium Channel into Plasma Membrane

[0235] CHO—SNS 22 cells are stably transfected cell line with rat SNS sodium channel cDNA. They do not have SNS sodium channel current however they express high amount of full length SNS sodium channel mRNA. Inmunocytochemical study using anti-SNS sodium channel polyclonal antibody (SNS 11) showed SNS sodium channel-like immunoreactivity in cytosol of CHO—SNS 22 cells but not in the plasma membrane. To study whether p11 changes the cellular localization of SNS sodium channel protein, we transfected CHO—SNS 22 cells with GFP/p11 fusion cDNA (pBS-GFP/p11). The p11 expression was detected as green fluorescence signal due to fused GFP. The green fluorescence specifically localized in the plasma membrane. In the same cell, SNS sodium channel-like immunoreactivity, red fluorescence, also shows signal in the plasma membrane as well as cytosol. Co-expression of p11 and SNS sodium channel was seen in the plasma membrane. Densitometric analysis of Na_(v)1.8-like immunoreactivity of the GFP-p11 fusion or GFP protein expressed CHO—SNS22 cells showed that 16.5% (S.E.M. 1.2, n=30) of Na_(v)1.8-like immunoreactivity moved to the plasma membrane fraction after the expression of GFP-p11 fusion protein, while only 4.3% (S.E.M. 0.4, n=30) of Na_(v)1.8-like immunoreactivity localized on the plasma membrane in the GFP expressing CHO—SNS22 cells. These data demonstrate that p11 promotes the translocation of Na_(v)1.8 protein to the extracellular membrane.

Example 3 p11 Induces SNS Sodium Channel Current in CHO—SNS 22 Cells

[0236] In 9 from a total of 42 CHO—SNS 22 cells transfected with pBS-GFP/p11, TTX-resistant (TTX-r) currents were found that resembled neuronal SNS sodium channel current. The currents very closely resembled the SNS sodium channel Na⁺ current recorded from transfected COS cells, both in terms of voltage-dependence and kinetics. The TTX-r inward currents are shown in FIG. 1A. The current began to activate around 0 to +10 mV, and peaked at +40 mV (FIG. 1B). The reversal potential for the currents is quite close to the theoretical reversal potential for Na⁺ (+81 mV), consistent with them being Na⁺ currents. Any apparent deviation from the theoretical value may be considered within experimental error, given the small size of the inward current and the often non-linear current-voltage relations of CHO cells. No TTX-r inward currents have ever been recorded before from either non-transfected (n=41) or GFP transfected (n=40) CHO—SNS22 cells, following p11 transfection a little over 20% of the cells generated small Na currents. This is a highly statistically significant finding (P<0.002 vs. GFP transfected or control non-transfected, Fisher exact test). This suggests that p11 may be a protein necessary for SNS sodium channel Na⁺ channel function, normally missing from the CHO cell.

[0237] Nerve growth factor (NGF) is known as a potent hyperalgesic mediator⁵. On the basis of the results shown herein i.e. the involvement of p11 on the trafficking of SNS sodium channel protein into plasma membrane, it appears that the known function of NGF as a hyperalgesic mediator may be due to up-regulation of p11⁷ and subsequent membrane translocation of SNS sodium channel by p11 (without altering the amount of SNS sodium channel mRNA⁶).

[0238] Prostaglandins such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) act as hyperalgesic agents and its generation depends on cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-catalyzed conversion of arachidonic acid. The liberation of arachidonic acid from membrane glycerophospholipids is mediated by the hydrolytic action of phospholipase A2 and this is the rate-limitincg step in the generation of Prostaglandins. p11 is also known as an endogenous inhibitor for cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2)⁸. Transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) has been shown to stimulate expression of COX-2, cPLA2, and p11 in an epithelial cell line⁹. This suggests the expression of positive (COX-2, cPLA2) and negative (p11) regulator for prostaglandin synthesis is controlled by a common mechanism. Interestingly, calpactin-I heavy chain has antiflammin-like sequence which share a core tetrapeptide KVXD. Antiflammin are a peptides that share a common sequence with uteroglobin and lipocortin-I, which may act as anti-inflammatory agent by suppressing leukocyte trafficking to the lesion¹⁰ however their activity in inflammation in vivo is still controversial.

Example 4 Effect of p11 Antisense on Nav1.8 Channels

[0239] To test the possible regulatory role of p11 on Na_(v)1.8 channels in sensory neurons, we nicroinjected the p11 antisense expression vector, pBS-GFP/AS(p11), into the nuclei of DRG neurons in culture. Immunohistochemistry, using anti-p11 polyclonal antibodies confirmed an efficient reduction of p11-like immunoreactivity in DRG neurons by the introduction of pBS-GFP/AS(p11). The introduction of pBS-GFP/AS(p11) also caused a dramatic loss of Na_(v)1.8 current (FIG. 2). The mean peak Na⁺ current density was reduced in pBS-GFP/AS(p11) injected neurons (63.1±24.5 pA/pF, mean±S.E.M. n=8) when compared with control neurons injected with GFP only (179.2±40.3 pA/pF, n=9, P<0.04; Student's two tailed t-test). In contrast, the residual maximum K⁺ current density derived from currents recorded on stepping to +80 mV were not significantly affected by pBS-GFP/AS(p11) (61.7±17.6 pA/pF in control cells vs. 44.8±5.5 pA/pF in injected, (means±S.E.M., P=0.4; Student's two tailed t-test), suggesting that the effect of antisense was specific. We also examined the affect of pBS-GFP/AS/p11 on TTX-sensitive currents in ND7/23 cells. TTX-sensitive current densities were unaffected (p>0.1) Students unpaired two-tailed t-test), suggesting that p11 is not required for the expression of other TTX-sensitive sodium channel subtypes.

[0240] The present inventors have demonstrated that the functional expression of the TTX-insensitive VGSC Nav 1.8 (which hereinafter may be referred to as the “SNS sodium channel”) is facilitated by interaction with a second protein-p11. This improved function appears to be effected through direct protein-protein interaction.

Example 5 Molecular Cloning of p11 to Elucidate Binding Domain to Na_(v)1.8

[0241] p11 was initially divided into three fragments (amino acids 1-32, a.a 33-77, and a.a 78-95) and cloned into pBS500 expression vector. The primers used were designed to introduce a NcoI restriction enzyme cut site in the 5′ direction and XbaI in the 3′ direction.

[0242] Forward primers: p11-5′, 5′-AACCATGGATGCCATCCCAAATG-3′; p11-2-5′, 5′-AACCATGGGTGCTCATGGAAAG-3′; p11-3-5′, 5′-AACCATGGGGGCTCATCATTG-3′.

[0243] Reverse primers: p11-1-3′, 5′-GATCTAGATCTCAGGTCCTCCTTTGTC-3′; p11-2-3′, 5′-GATCTAGACGCCACTAGTGATAGAAAGC-3′; p11-3-3′, 5′-GATCTAGACTACTTCTTCTGCTTCATGTGTAC-3′.

[0244] NcoI sites are underlined. XbaI sites are boldfaced. PCR was carried out using p11-5′/p11-1-3′, p11-2-5/p11-2-3′, p11-3-5′/p11-3-3″ primer sets for fragments N3-1, N3-2, and N3-3 respectively. The following cycles were used: 25 cycles of 1 min at 94° C., followed by 1 rain 30 sec at 55° C., and then 1 min 30 sec at 72° C. PCR products were digested with restriction enzymes EcoRI and NotI and ligated into pre-linearized pBS500 vector. The resulting constructs were sequenced with forward primer GFP5 (5′-ACCACATGGTCCTTCTTGAG-3′) and reverse primer CSF-R (5′-TGCTGTTTAAATATTAAACAGGG-3′).

[0245] The p11-2 fragment was further cut into two smaller fragments (amino acids 33-51 and 52-77) and cloned into pBS500 expression vector as described above. Forward primers: p11-2-2F. 5′p-AACCATGGGTGGACAAATAATGAAGAC-3′; p11-2-5′. Reverse primers: p11-2-3′; p11-2-1R, 5′-GATCTAGAAGCCAGAGGGTCCTTTTGA-3′. PCR was carried out using p11-2-5′/p11-2-1R and p11-2-2F/p11-2-3′ primer sets for fragment p11-2-1 and p11-2-2 respectively. Another fragment p11-1A (amino acids 1-51) was also cloned using the primer set p11-5′ and p11-2-1R

[0246] GFP/p11 fusion protein was expressed in COS-7 cells by transient transfection. The Na_(v)1.8 N-terminal region was truncated into three separate fragments, fused to GST, immobilized on glutathione-sepharose beads and were examined by immunoblotting with anti-GFP antibodies. GFP/p11 binds directly to N3 region (aa 53-127). Purified GST-N1 and GST-N2 did not pull down GFP/p11 nor did GST control bind to GFP/p11.

[0247] GFP and GFP/p11 fusion protein were expressed in COS-7 cells by transient transfection. The COS cell lysates were incubated with affinity-purified GST-N3-1, -N3-2, and -N3-3 fragments of the N-terminal domain of Na_(v)1.8 fused to GST, immobilized on glutathione-sepharose beads and were examined by immunoblotting with anti-GFP antibodies. Purified GST-N3-1 and GST-N3-3 did not pull down GFP/p11, while GST—N3-2 efficiently pulled down the GFP/p11 fusion protein (amino aicds 75-102).

[0248] GFP/p11-1, -2, -3 fusion protein were expressed in COS-7 cells by transient transfection. The COS cell lysates were incubated with affinity-purified GST-SNS(I), the N-terminal domain of Na_(v)1.8 fused to GST, immobilized on glutathione-sepharose beads and were examined by immunoblotting with anti-GFP antibodies. GST-SNS(I) did not pull down cell lysates p11-1 and p11-3, but it efficiently pulled down cell lysate p11-2 (amino acids 33-77).

[0249] GFP/p11-1A, p11-2, p11-2-1, and p11-2-2 fusion proteins were expressed in COS-7 cells by transient transfection. The COS cell lysates were incubated with affinity-purified GST-SNS(I), the N-terminal domain of Na_(v)1.8 fused to GST, immobilized on glutathione-sepharose beads and were examined by immunoblotting with anti-GFP antibodies. GST-SNS(I) did not pull down cell lysates p11-1A, p11-2-1, nor p11-2-2. These protein fragments correspond to amino acids 1-51, 33-51, 52-77 respectively. GST-SNS(I) efficiently pulled down cell lysate p11-2.

Example 6 Mutagenesis of p11 Mutated-EF Hand

[0250] To delineate residues that are important for p11 to bind to Na_(v)1.8, point mutations were generated in the p11 EF hand binding region of construct p11-2. The oligonucleotide-directed point mutation was made by a two-step polymerase chain reaction protocol using two mutagenic primers and two restriction site primers. Full-length p11 in pBS500 expression vector was used as template. The following primer sets were used to introduce mutation 1 in amino acids 56 to 60 (from amino acid sequence DQCRD to AQARA): p11-5′/p11-mutation1-R; p11-3′/p11-mutation1-F. Forward primers: p11-5′, 5′-AACCATGGATGCCATCCCAAATG-3′; p11-mutation1-F, 5′-GGCCCAGGCCCGAGCTG-3′. Reverse primers: p11-3′, 5′-GATCTAGACTAC TTCTTCTGCTTCATGTGTAC-3′; p11-mutation1-F, 5′-TCCAGCTCGGGCCTGGGCC-3′. PCR cycles: 35 cycles of 94° C. 1 min, 63° C. 1 min 30 sec, 72° C. 1 min 30 sec.

[0251] The following primer sets were used to introduce mutation 2 in amino acids 62 to 67 (from amino acid sequence KVGFQS to AVAFQA) in p11: p11-5′/p11-mutation2-R; p11-3′/p11-mutation2-F. Forward primer: p11-mutation2-F, 5′-GAGCAGTGGCCT TCCAGGCCT-3′. Reverse primer: p11-mutation2-R, 5′-TAGAAAGGCCTGGAA GGCCACTGCT-3′. PCR cycles: 40 cycles of 94° c. 1min, 60° C. 1min 30 sec, 72° C. 1 min 30 sec.

[0252] The two PCR products containing the mutations were subcloned into pBS500 expression vector at NcoI/XbaI sites. Incorporation of the mutation was confirmed by DNA sequencing using the forward primer GFP5′, 5′-ACCACATGGTCCTTCTTGAG-3′.

[0253] In summary, the data presented here show that the p11 is responsible for translocation of SNS sodium channel protein into plasma membrane and is a necessary permissive factor for SNS sodium channel function. Therefore the interaction between p11 and SNS sodium channel can provide a target for therapeutic intervention in pain states.

[0254] References

[0255] 1 Fitzgerald, E. M., Okuse, K., Wood, J. N., Dolphin, A. C., Moss, S. J. (1999) cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of the tetrodotoxin-resistant voltage-dependent sodium channel SNS sodium channel. J. Physiology 516 433-446.

[0256] 2 Waisman, D. M. (1995) Annexin II tetramer: structure and function., Mol. Cell. Biochem. 149/150, 301-322.

[0257] 3 Rety, S., Sopkova, J., Renouard, M., Osterloh, D., Gerke, V., Tabaries, S., Russo-Marie, F., Lewit-Bentley, A. (1999) The crystal structure of a complex of p11 with the annexin II N-terminal peptide., Nat. Struct. Biol. 6(1), 89-95.

[0258] 4 Osborn, M., Johnsson, N., Wehland, J., Weber, K. (1988) The submembranous location of p11 and its interaction with the p36 substrate of pp60^(src) kinase in situ., Exp. Cell. Res. 175(1), 81-96.

[0259] 5 McMahon, S. B., Bennet, D. L., Priestley, J. V., Shelton, D. L. (1995) The biological effects of endogenous nerve growth factor on adult sensory neurons revealed by a trkA-IgG fusion molecule., Nature Med. 1(8), 774-780.

[0260] 6 Okuse, K., Chaplan, S. R., McMahon, S. B., Luo, Z. D., Calcutt, N. A., Scott, B. P., Akopian, A. N., Wood, J. N. (1997) Regulation of expression of the sensory neuron-specific sodium channel SNS sodium channel in inflammatory and neuropathic pain., Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 10(3-4), 196-207.

[0261] 7 Masiakowski, P., Shooter, E. M. (1988) Nerve growth factor induces the genes for two proteins related to a family of calcium-binding-proteins in PC12 cells., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85(4), 1277-1281.

[0262] 8 Wu, T., Angus, C. W. Yao, X. L., Logun, C., Shelhamer, J. H. (1997) P11, a unique member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins, interacts with and inhibits the activity of the 85-kDa cytosolic phospholipase A2., J Biol. Chem. 272(27), 17145-17153.

[0263] 9 Akiba, S., Hatazawa, R., Ono, K., Hayama, M., Matsui, H., Sato, T. (2000) Transforming growth factor-α stimulates prostaglandin generation through cytosolic phospholipase A2 under the control of p11 in rat gastric epithelial cells., Br. J. Pharmacol. 131, 1004-1010.

[0264] 10 Moreno J J. (2000) Antiflammin peptides in the regulation of inflammatory response., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 923, 47-53.

[0265] 11 Kong, H. et al. An evolutionarily conserved transmembrane protein that is a novel downstream target of neurotrophin and ephrin receptors. J. Neurosci. 21. 176-185 (2001).

[0266] 12 Liu, C j., Dib-Hajj, S. D., Waxman, S. G. Fibroblast growth factor homologous factor 1B binds to the C terminus of the tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channel rNav1.9a (NaN). J. Biol. Chem. 276, 18925-18933 (2001).

[0267] 13 Lewin, G. R., Rueff, A. & Mendell, L. M. Peripheral and central mechanisms of NGF-induced hyperalgesia. Eur. J. Neurosci. 6, 1903-1912. (19 )

[0268] 14 Black J A et al. NGF has opposing effects on Na⁺ channel III and SNS gene expression in spinal sensory neurons. Neuroreport.;8, 2331-5. (1997)

[0269] 15 Fang, X. et al. Sensory and electrophysiological properties of DRG neurones with SNS-like immunoreactivity (SNS-LI) in rats. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 819.5 (2001).

[0270] 16 Fjell, J. et al. In vivo NGF deprivation reduces SNS expression and TTX-R sodium currents in IB4-negative DRG neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 81, 803-810 (1999).

1 55 1 6524 DNA Rattus norvegicus CDS (204)..(6074) 1 tagcttgctt ctgctaatgc taccccaggc ctttagacag agaacagatg gcagatggag 60 tttcttattg ccatgcgcaa acgctgagcc cacctcatga tcccggaccc catggttttc 120 agtagacaac ctgggctaag aagagatctc cgaccttata gagcagcaaa gagtgtaaat 180 tcttccccaa gaagaatgag aag atg gag ctc ccc ttt gcg tcc gtg gga act 233 Met Glu Leu Pro Phe Ala Ser Val Gly Thr 1 5 10 acc aat ttc aga cgg ttc act cca gag tca ctg gca gag atc gag aag 281 Thr Asn Phe Arg Arg Phe Thr Pro Glu Ser Leu Ala Glu Ile Glu Lys 15 20 25 cag att gct gct cac cgc gca gcc aag aag gcc aga acc aag cac aga 329 Gln Ile Ala Ala His Arg Ala Ala Lys Lys Ala Arg Thr Lys His Arg 30 35 40 gga cag gag gac aag ggc gag aag ccc agg cct cag ctg gac ttg aaa 377 Gly Gln Glu Asp Lys Gly Glu Lys Pro Arg Pro Gln Leu Asp Leu Lys 45 50 55 gac tgt aac cag ctg ccc aag ttc tat ggt gag ctc cca gca gaa ctg 425 Asp Cys Asn Gln Leu Pro Lys Phe Tyr Gly Glu Leu Pro Ala Glu Leu 60 65 70 gtc ggg gag ccc ctg gag gac cta gac cct ttc tac agc aca cac cgg 473 Val Gly Glu Pro Leu Glu Asp Leu Asp Pro Phe Tyr Ser Thr His Arg 75 80 85 90 aca ttc atg gtg ttg aat aaa agc agg acc att tcc aga ttc agt gcc 521 Thr Phe Met Val Leu Asn Lys Ser Arg Thr Ile Ser Arg Phe Ser Ala 95 100 105 act tgg gcc ctg tgg ctc ttc agt ccc ttc aac ctg atc aga aga aca 569 Thr Trp Ala Leu Trp Leu Phe Ser Pro Phe Asn Leu Ile Arg Arg Thr 110 115 120 gcc atc aaa gtg tct gtc cat tcc tgg ttc tcc ata ttc atc acc atc 617 Ala Ile Lys Val Ser Val His Ser Trp Phe Ser Ile Phe Ile Thr Ile 125 130 135 act att ttg gtc aac tgc gtg tgc atg acc cga act gat ctt cca gag 665 Thr Ile Leu Val Asn Cys Val Cys Met Thr Arg Thr Asp Leu Pro Glu 140 145 150 aaa gtc gag tac gtc ttc act gtc att tac acc ttc gag gct ctg att 713 Lys Val Glu Tyr Val Phe Thr Val Ile Tyr Thr Phe Glu Ala Leu Ile 155 160 165 170 aag ata ctg gca aga ggg ttt tgt cta aat gag ttc act tat ctt cga 761 Lys Ile Leu Ala Arg Gly Phe Cys Leu Asn Glu Phe Thr Tyr Leu Arg 175 180 185 gat ccg tgg aac tgg ctg gac ttc agt gtc att acc ttg gcg tat gtg 809 Asp Pro Trp Asn Trp Leu Asp Phe Ser Val Ile Thr Leu Ala Tyr Val 190 195 200 ggt gca gcg ata gac ctc cga gga atc tca ggc ctg cgg aca ttc cga 857 Gly Ala Ala Ile Asp Leu Arg Gly Ile Ser Gly Leu Arg Thr Phe Arg 205 210 215 gtt ctc aga gcc ctg aaa act gtt tct gtg atc cca gga ctg aag gtc 905 Val Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys Thr Val Ser Val Ile Pro Gly Leu Lys Val 220 225 230 atc gtg gga gcc ctg atc cac tca gtg agg aag ctg gcc gac gtg act 953 Ile Val Gly Ala Leu Ile His Ser Val Arg Lys Leu Ala Asp Val Thr 235 240 245 250 atc ctc aca gtc ttc tgc ctg agc gtc ttc gcc ttg gtg ggc ctg cag 1001 Ile Leu Thr Val Phe Cys Leu Ser Val Phe Ala Leu Val Gly Leu Gln 255 260 265 ctc ttt aag ggg aac ctt aag aac aaa tgc atc agg aac gga aca gat 1049 Leu Phe Lys Gly Asn Leu Lys Asn Lys Cys Ile Arg Asn Gly Thr Asp 270 275 280 ccc cac aag gct gac aac ctc tca tct gaa atg gca gaa tac atc ttc 1097 Pro His Lys Ala Asp Asn Leu Ser Ser Glu Met Ala Glu Tyr Ile Phe 285 290 295 atc aag cct ggt act acg gat ccc tta ctg tgc ggc aat ggg tct gat 1145 Ile Lys Pro Gly Thr Thr Asp Pro Leu Leu Cys Gly Asn Gly Ser Asp 300 305 310 gct ggt cac tgc cct gga ggc tat gtc tgc ctg aaa act cct gac aac 1193 Ala Gly His Cys Pro Gly Gly Tyr Val Cys Leu Lys Thr Pro Asp Asn 315 320 325 330 ccg gat ttt aac tac acc agc ttt gat tcc ttt gcg tgg gca ttc ctc 1241 Pro Asp Phe Asn Tyr Thr Ser Phe Asp Ser Phe Ala Trp Ala Phe Leu 335 340 345 tca ctg ttc cgc ctc atg acg cag gac tcc tgg gag cgc ctg tac cag 1289 Ser Leu Phe Arg Leu Met Thr Gln Asp Ser Trp Glu Arg Leu Tyr Gln 350 355 360 cag aca ctc cgg gct tct ggg aaa atg tac atg gtc ttt ttc gtg ctg 1337 Gln Thr Leu Arg Ala Ser Gly Lys Met Tyr Met Val Phe Phe Val Leu 365 370 375 gtt att ttc ctt gga tcg ttc tac ctg gtc aat ttg atc ttg gcc gtg 1385 Val Ile Phe Leu Gly Ser Phe Tyr Leu Val Asn Leu Ile Leu Ala Val 380 385 390 gtc acc atg gcg tat gaa gag cag agc cag gca aca att gca gaa atc 1433 Val Thr Met Ala Tyr Glu Glu Gln Ser Gln Ala Thr Ile Ala Glu Ile 395 400 405 410 gaa gcc aag gaa aaa aag ttc cag gaa gcc ctt gag gtg ctg cag aag 1481 Glu Ala Lys Glu Lys Lys Phe Gln Glu Ala Leu Glu Val Leu Gln Lys 415 420 425 gaa cag gag gtg ctg gaa gcc ctg ggg att gac acg acc tcg ctc cag 1529 Glu Gln Glu Val Leu Glu Ala Leu Gly Ile Asp Thr Thr Ser Leu Gln 430 435 440 tcc cac agt gga tca ccc tta gcc tcc aaa aac gcc aat gag aga aga 1577 Ser His Ser Gly Ser Pro Leu Ala Ser Lys Asn Ala Asn Glu Arg Arg 445 450 455 ccc agg gtg aaa tca agg gtg tca gag ggc tcc acg gat gac aac agg 1625 Pro Arg Val Lys Ser Arg Val Ser Glu Gly Ser Thr Asp Asp Asn Arg 460 465 470 tca ccc caa tct gac cct tac aac cag cgc agg atg tct ttc cta ggc 1673 Ser Pro Gln Ser Asp Pro Tyr Asn Gln Arg Arg Met Ser Phe Leu Gly 475 480 485 490 ctg tct tca gga aga cgc agg gct agc cac ggc agt gtg ttc cac ttc 1721 Leu Ser Ser Gly Arg Arg Arg Ala Ser His Gly Ser Val Phe His Phe 495 500 505 cga gcg ccc agc caa gac atc tca ttt cct gac ggg atc acc cct gat 1769 Arg Ala Pro Ser Gln Asp Ile Ser Phe Pro Asp Gly Ile Thr Pro Asp 510 515 520 gat ggg gtc ttt cac gga gac cag gaa agc cgt cga ggt tcc ata ttg 1817 Asp Gly Val Phe His Gly Asp Gln Glu Ser Arg Arg Gly Ser Ile Leu 525 530 535 ctg ggc agg ggt gct ggg cag aca ggt cca ctc ccc agg agc cca ctg 1865 Leu Gly Arg Gly Ala Gly Gln Thr Gly Pro Leu Pro Arg Ser Pro Leu 540 545 550 cct cag tcc ccc aac cct ggc cgt aga cat gga gaa gag gga cag ctc 1913 Pro Gln Ser Pro Asn Pro Gly Arg Arg His Gly Glu Glu Gly Gln Leu 555 560 565 570 gga gtg ccc act ggt gag ctt acc gct gga gcg cct gaa ggc ccg gca 1961 Gly Val Pro Thr Gly Glu Leu Thr Ala Gly Ala Pro Glu Gly Pro Ala 575 580 585 ctg cac act aca ggg cag aag agc ttc ctg tct gcg ggc tac ttg aac 2009 Leu His Thr Thr Gly Gln Lys Ser Phe Leu Ser Ala Gly Tyr Leu Asn 590 595 600 gaa cct ttc cga gca cag agg gcc atg agc gtt gtc agt atc atg act 2057 Glu Pro Phe Arg Ala Gln Arg Ala Met Ser Val Val Ser Ile Met Thr 605 610 615 tct gtc att gag gag ctt gaa gag tct aag ctg aag tgc cca ccc tgc 2105 Ser Val Ile Glu Glu Leu Glu Glu Ser Lys Leu Lys Cys Pro Pro Cys 620 625 630 ttg atc agc ttc gct cag aag tat ctg atc tgg gag tgc tgc ccc aag 2153 Leu Ile Ser Phe Ala Gln Lys Tyr Leu Ile Trp Glu Cys Cys Pro Lys 635 640 645 650 tgg agg aag ttc aag atg gcg ctg ttc gag ctg gtg act gac ccc ttc 2201 Trp Arg Lys Phe Lys Met Ala Leu Phe Glu Leu Val Thr Asp Pro Phe 655 660 665 gca gag ctt acc atc acc ctc tgc atc gtg gtg aac acc gtc ttc atg 2249 Ala Glu Leu Thr Ile Thr Leu Cys Ile Val Val Asn Thr Val Phe Met 670 675 680 gcc atg gag cac tac ccc atg acc gat gcc ttc gat gcc atg ctt caa 2297 Ala Met Glu His Tyr Pro Met Thr Asp Ala Phe Asp Ala Met Leu Gln 685 690 695 gcc ggc aac att gtc ttc acc gtg ttt ttc aca atg gag atg gcc ttc 2345 Ala Gly Asn Ile Val Phe Thr Val Phe Phe Thr Met Glu Met Ala Phe 700 705 710 aag atc att gcc ttc gac ccc tac tat tac ttc cag aag aag tgg aat 2393 Lys Ile Ile Ala Phe Asp Pro Tyr Tyr Tyr Phe Gln Lys Lys Trp Asn 715 720 725 730 atc ttc gac tgt gtc atc gtc acc gtg agc ctt ctg gag ctg agt gca 2441 Ile Phe Asp Cys Val Ile Val Thr Val Ser Leu Leu Glu Leu Ser Ala 735 740 745 tcc aag aag ggc agc ctg tct gtg ctc cgt acc tta cgc ttg ctg cgg 2489 Ser Lys Lys Gly Ser Leu Ser Val Leu Arg Thr Leu Arg Leu Leu Arg 750 755 760 gtc ttc aag ctg gcc aag tcc tgg ccc acc ctg aac acc ctc atc aag 2537 Val Phe Lys Leu Ala Lys Ser Trp Pro Thr Leu Asn Thr Leu Ile Lys 765 770 775 atc atc ggg aac tca gtg ggg gcc ctg ggc aac ctg acc ttt atc ctg 2585 Ile Ile Gly Asn Ser Val Gly Ala Leu Gly Asn Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu 780 785 790 gcc atc atc gtc ttc atc ttc gcc ctg gtc gga aag cag ctt ctc tca 2633 Ala Ile Ile Val Phe Ile Phe Ala Leu Val Gly Lys Gln Leu Leu Ser 795 800 805 810 gag gac tac ggg tgc cgc aag gac ggc gtc tcc gtg tgg aac ggc gag 2681 Glu Asp Tyr Gly Cys Arg Lys Asp Gly Val Ser Val Trp Asn Gly Glu 815 820 825 aag ctc cgc tgg cac atg tgt gac ttc ttc cat tcc ttc ctg gtc gtc 2729 Lys Leu Arg Trp His Met Cys Asp Phe Phe His Ser Phe Leu Val Val 830 835 840 ttc cga atc ctc tgc ggg gag tgg atc gag aac atg tgg gtc tgc atg 2777 Phe Arg Ile Leu Cys Gly Glu Trp Ile Glu Asn Met Trp Val Cys Met 845 850 855 gag gtc agc cag aaa tcc atc tgc ctc atc ctc ttc ttg act gtg atg 2825 Glu Val Ser Gln Lys Ser Ile Cys Leu Ile Leu Phe Leu Thr Val Met 860 865 870 gtg ctg ggc aac cta gtg gtg ctc aac ctt ttc atc gct tta ctg ctg 2873 Val Leu Gly Asn Leu Val Val Leu Asn Leu Phe Ile Ala Leu Leu Leu 875 880 885 890 aac tcc ttc agc gcg gac aac ctc acg gct cca gag gat gac ggg gag 2921 Asn Ser Phe Ser Ala Asp Asn Leu Thr Ala Pro Glu Asp Asp Gly Glu 895 900 905 gtg aac aac ttg cag tta gca ctg gcc agg atc cag gta ctt ggc cat 2969 Val Asn Asn Leu Gln Leu Ala Leu Ala Arg Ile Gln Val Leu Gly His 910 915 920 cgg gcc agc agg gcc atc gcc agt tac atc agc agc cac tgc cga ttc 3017 Arg Ala Ser Arg Ala Ile Ala Ser Tyr Ile Ser Ser His Cys Arg Phe 925 930 935 cac tgg ccc aag gtg gag acc cag ctg ggc atg aag ccc cca ctc acc 3065 His Trp Pro Lys Val Glu Thr Gln Leu Gly Met Lys Pro Pro Leu Thr 940 945 950 agc tca gag gcc aag aac cac att gcc act gat gct gtc agt gct gca 3113 Ser Ser Glu Ala Lys Asn His Ile Ala Thr Asp Ala Val Ser Ala Ala 955 960 965 970 gtg ggg aac ctg aca aag cca gct ctc agt agc ccc aag gag aac cac 3161 Val Gly Asn Leu Thr Lys Pro Ala Leu Ser Ser Pro Lys Glu Asn His 975 980 985 ggg gac ttc atc act gat ccc aac gtg tgg gtc tct gtg ccc att gct 3209 Gly Asp Phe Ile Thr Asp Pro Asn Val Trp Val Ser Val Pro Ile Ala 990 995 1000 gag ggg gaa tct gac ctc gac gag ctc gag gaa gat atg gag cag 3254 Glu Gly Glu Ser Asp Leu Asp Glu Leu Glu Glu Asp Met Glu Gln 1005 1010 1015 gct tcg cag agc tcc tgg cag gaa gag gac ccc aag gga cag cag 3299 Ala Ser Gln Ser Ser Trp Gln Glu Glu Asp Pro Lys Gly Gln Gln 1020 1025 1030 gag cag ttg cca caa gtc caa aag tgt gaa aac cac cag gca gcc 3344 Glu Gln Leu Pro Gln Val Gln Lys Cys Glu Asn His Gln Ala Ala 1035 1040 1045 aga agc cca gcc tcc atg atg tcc tct gag gac ctg gct cca tac 3389 Arg Ser Pro Ala Ser Met Met Ser Ser Glu Asp Leu Ala Pro Tyr 1050 1055 1060 ctg ggt gag agc tgg aag agg aag gat agc cct cag gtc cct gcc 3434 Leu Gly Glu Ser Trp Lys Arg Lys Asp Ser Pro Gln Val Pro Ala 1065 1070 1075 gag gga gtg gat gac acg agc tcc tct gag ggc agc acg gtg gac 3479 Glu Gly Val Asp Asp Thr Ser Ser Ser Glu Gly Ser Thr Val Asp 1080 1085 1090 tgc ccg gac cca gag gaa atc ctg agg aag atc ccc gag ctg gca 3524 Cys Pro Asp Pro Glu Glu Ile Leu Arg Lys Ile Pro Glu Leu Ala 1095 1100 1105 gat gac ctg gac gag ccc gat gac tgt ttc aca gaa ggc tgc act 3569 Asp Asp Leu Asp Glu Pro Asp Asp Cys Phe Thr Glu Gly Cys Thr 1110 1115 1120 cgc cgc tgt ccc tgc tgc aac gtg aat act agc aag tct cct tgg 3614 Arg Arg Cys Pro Cys Cys Asn Val Asn Thr Ser Lys Ser Pro Trp 1125 1130 1135 gcc aca ggc tgg cag gtg cgc aag acc tgc tac cgc atc gtg gag 3659 Ala Thr Gly Trp Gln Val Arg Lys Thr Cys Tyr Arg Ile Val Glu 1140 1145 1150 cac agc tgg ttt gag agt ttc atc atc ttc atg atc ctg ctc agc 3704 His Ser Trp Phe Glu Ser Phe Ile Ile Phe Met Ile Leu Leu Ser 1155 1160 1165 agt gga gcg ctg gcc ttt gag gat aac tac ctg gaa gag aaa ccc 3749 Ser Gly Ala Leu Ala Phe Glu Asp Asn Tyr Leu Glu Glu Lys Pro 1170 1175 1180 cga gtg aag tcc gtg ctg gag tac act gac cga gtg ttc acc ttc 3794 Arg Val Lys Ser Val Leu Glu Tyr Thr Asp Arg Val Phe Thr Phe 1185 1190 1195 atc ttc gtc ttt gag atg ctg ctc aag tgg gta gcc tat ggc ttc 3839 Ile Phe Val Phe Glu Met Leu Leu Lys Trp Val Ala Tyr Gly Phe 1200 1205 1210 aaa aag tat ttc acc aat gcc tgg tgc tgg ctg gac ttc ctc att 3884 Lys Lys Tyr Phe Thr Asn Ala Trp Cys Trp Leu Asp Phe Leu Ile 1215 1220 1225 gtg aac atc tcc ctg aca agc ctc ata gcg aag atc ctt gag tat 3929 Val Asn Ile Ser Leu Thr Ser Leu Ile Ala Lys Ile Leu Glu Tyr 1230 1235 1240 tcc gac gtg gcg tcc atc aaa gcc ctt cgg act ctc cgt gcc ctc 3974 Ser Asp Val Ala Ser Ile Lys Ala Leu Arg Thr Leu Arg Ala Leu 1245 1250 1255 cga ccg ctg cgg gct ctg tct cga ttc gaa ggc atg agg gta gtg 4019 Arg Pro Leu Arg Ala Leu Ser Arg Phe Glu Gly Met Arg Val Val 1260 1265 1270 gtg gat gcc ctc gtg ggc gcc atc ccc tcc atc atg aac gtc ctc 4064 Val Asp Ala Leu Val Gly Ala Ile Pro Ser Ile Met Asn Val Leu 1275 1280 1285 ctc gtc tgc ctc atc ttc tgg ctc atc ttc agc atc atg ggc gtg 4109 Leu Val Cys Leu Ile Phe Trp Leu Ile Phe Ser Ile Met Gly Val 1290 1295 1300 aac ctc ttc gcc ggg aaa ttt tcg aag tgc gtc gac acc aga aat 4154 Asn Leu Phe Ala Gly Lys Phe Ser Lys Cys Val Asp Thr Arg Asn 1305 1310 1315 aac cca ttt tcc aac gtg aat tcg acg atg gtg aat aac aag tcc 4199 Asn Pro Phe Ser Asn Val Asn Ser Thr Met Val Asn Asn Lys Ser 1320 1325 1330 gag tgt cac aat caa aac agc acc ggc cac ttc ttc tgg gtc aac 4244 Glu Cys His Asn Gln Asn Ser Thr Gly His Phe Phe Trp Val Asn 1335 1340 1345 gtc aaa gtc aac ttc gac aac gtc gct atg ggc tac ctc gca ctt 4289 Val Lys Val Asn Phe Asp Asn Val Ala Met Gly Tyr Leu Ala Leu 1350 1355 1360 ctt cag gtg gca acc ttc aaa ggc tgg atg gac ata atg tat gca 4334 Leu Gln Val Ala Thr Phe Lys Gly Trp Met Asp Ile Met Tyr Ala 1365 1370 1375 gct gtt gat tcc gga gag atc aac agt cag cct aac tgg gag aac 4379 Ala Val Asp Ser Gly Glu Ile Asn Ser Gln Pro Asn Trp Glu Asn 1380 1385 1390 aac ttg tac atg tac ctg tac ttc gtc gtt ttc atc att ttc ggt 4424 Asn Leu Tyr Met Tyr Leu Tyr Phe Val Val Phe Ile Ile Phe Gly 1395 1400 1405 ggc ttc ttc acg ctg aat ctc ttt gtt ggg gtc ata atc gac aac 4469 Gly Phe Phe Thr Leu Asn Leu Phe Val Gly Val Ile Ile Asp Asn 1410 1415 1420 ttc aac caa cag aaa aaa aag cta gga ggc cag gac atc ttc atg 4514 Phe Asn Gln Gln Lys Lys Lys Leu Gly Gly Gln Asp Ile Phe Met 1425 1430 1435 aca gaa gag cag aag aag tac tac aat gcc atg aag aag ctg ggc 4559 Thr Glu Glu Gln Lys Lys Tyr Tyr Asn Ala Met Lys Lys Leu Gly 1440 1445 1450 tcc aag aaa ccc cag aag ccc atc cca cgg ccc ctg aat aag tac 4604 Ser Lys Lys Pro Gln Lys Pro Ile Pro Arg Pro Leu Asn Lys Tyr 1455 1460 1465 caa ggc ttc gtg ttt gac atc gtg acc agg caa gcc ttt gac atc 4649 Gln Gly Phe Val Phe Asp Ile Val Thr Arg Gln Ala Phe Asp Ile 1470 1475 1480 atc atc atg gtt ctc atc tgc ctc aac atg atc acc atg atg gtg 4694 Ile Ile Met Val Leu Ile Cys Leu Asn Met Ile Thr Met Met Val 1485 1490 1495 gag acc gac gag cag ggc gag gag aag acg aag gtt ctg ggc aga 4739 Glu Thr Asp Glu Gln Gly Glu Glu Lys Thr Lys Val Leu Gly Arg 1500 1505 1510 atc aac cag ttc ttt gtg gcc gtc ttc acg ggc gag tgt gtg atg 4784 Ile Asn Gln Phe Phe Val Ala Val Phe Thr Gly Glu Cys Val Met 1515 1520 1525 aag atg ttc gcc ctg cga cag tac tac ttc acc aac ggc tgg aac 4829 Lys Met Phe Ala Leu Arg Gln Tyr Tyr Phe Thr Asn Gly Trp Asn 1530 1535 1540 gtg ttc gac ttc ata gtg gtg atc ctg tcc att ggg agt ctg ctg 4874 Val Phe Asp Phe Ile Val Val Ile Leu Ser Ile Gly Ser Leu Leu 1545 1550 1555 ttt tct gca atc ctt aag tca ctg gaa aac tac ttc tcc ccg acg 4919 Phe Ser Ala Ile Leu Lys Ser Leu Glu Asn Tyr Phe Ser Pro Thr 1560 1565 1570 ctc ttc cgg gtc atc cgt ctg gcc agg atc ggc cgc atc ctc agg 4964 Leu Phe Arg Val Ile Arg Leu Ala Arg Ile Gly Arg Ile Leu Arg 1575 1580 1585 ctg atc cga gca gcc aag ggg att cgc acg ctg ctc ttc gcc ctc 5009 Leu Ile Arg Ala Ala Lys Gly Ile Arg Thr Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu 1590 1595 1600 atg atg tcc ctg ccc gcc ctc ttc aac atc ggc ctc ctc ctc ttc 5054 Met Met Ser Leu Pro Ala Leu Phe Asn Ile Gly Leu Leu Leu Phe 1605 1610 1615 ctc gtc atg ttc atc tac tcc atc ttc ggc atg gcc agc ttc gct 5099 Leu Val Met Phe Ile Tyr Ser Ile Phe Gly Met Ala Ser Phe Ala 1620 1625 1630 aac gtc gtg gac gag gcc ggc atc gac gac atg ttc aac ttc aag 5144 Asn Val Val Asp Glu Ala Gly Ile Asp Asp Met Phe Asn Phe Lys 1635 1640 1645 acc ttt ggc aac agc atg ctg tgc ctg ttc cag atc acc acc tcg 5189 Thr Phe Gly Asn Ser Met Leu Cys Leu Phe Gln Ile Thr Thr Ser 1650 1655 1660 gcc ggc tgg gac ggc ctc ctc agc ccc atc ctc aac acg ggg cct 5234 Ala Gly Trp Asp Gly Leu Leu Ser Pro Ile Leu Asn Thr Gly Pro 1665 1670 1675 ccc tac tgc gac ccc aac ctg ccc aac agc aac ggc tcc cgg ggg 5279 Pro Tyr Cys Asp Pro Asn Leu Pro Asn Ser Asn Gly Ser Arg Gly 1680 1685 1690 aac tgc ggg agc ccg gcg gtg ggc atc atc ttc ttc acc acc tac 5324 Asn Cys Gly Ser Pro Ala Val Gly Ile Ile Phe Phe Thr Thr Tyr 1695 1700 1705 atc atc atc tcc ttc ctc atc gtg gtc aac atg tac atc gca gtg 5369 Ile Ile Ile Ser Phe Leu Ile Val Val Asn Met Tyr Ile Ala Val 1710 1715 1720 att ctg gag aac ttc aac gta gcc acc gag gag agc acg gag ccc 5414 Ile Leu Glu Asn Phe Asn Val Ala Thr Glu Glu Ser Thr Glu Pro 1725 1730 1735 ctg agc gag gac gac ttc gac atg ttc tat gag acc tgg gag aag 5459 Leu Ser Glu Asp Asp Phe Asp Met Phe Tyr Glu Thr Trp Glu Lys 1740 1745 1750 ttc gac ccg gag gcc acc cag ttc att gcc ttt tct gcc ctc tca 5504 Phe Asp Pro Glu Ala Thr Gln Phe Ile Ala Phe Ser Ala Leu Ser 1755 1760 1765 gac ttc gcg gac acg ctc tcc ggc cct ctt aga atc ccc aaa ccc 5549 Asp Phe Ala Asp Thr Leu Ser Gly Pro Leu Arg Ile Pro Lys Pro 1770 1775 1780 aac cag aat ata tta atc cag atg gac ctg ccg ttg gtc ccc ggg 5594 Asn Gln Asn Ile Leu Ile Gln Met Asp Leu Pro Leu Val Pro Gly 1785 1790 1795 gat aag atc cac tgt ctg gac atc ctt ttt gcc ttc aca aag aac 5639 Asp Lys Ile His Cys Leu Asp Ile Leu Phe Ala Phe Thr Lys Asn 1800 1805 1810 gtc ttg gga gaa tcc ggg gag ttg gac tcc ctg aag acc aat atg 5684 Val Leu Gly Glu Ser Gly Glu Leu Asp Ser Leu Lys Thr Asn Met 1815 1820 1825 gaa gag aag ttt atg gcg acc aat ctc tcc aaa gca tcc tat gaa 5729 Glu Glu Lys Phe Met Ala Thr Asn Leu Ser Lys Ala Ser Tyr Glu 1830 1835 1840 cca ata gcc acc acc ctc cgg tgg aag cag gaa gac ctc tca gcc 5774 Pro Ile Ala Thr Thr Leu Arg Trp Lys Gln Glu Asp Leu Ser Ala 1845 1850 1855 aca gtc att caa aag gcc tac cgg agc tac atg ctg cac cgc tcc 5819 Thr Val Ile Gln Lys Ala Tyr Arg Ser Tyr Met Leu His Arg Ser 1860 1865 1870 ttg aca ctc tcc aac acc ctg cat gtg ccc agg gct gag gag gat 5864 Leu Thr Leu Ser Asn Thr Leu His Val Pro Arg Ala Glu Glu Asp 1875 1880 1885 ggc gtg tca ctt ccc ggg gaa ggc tac att aca ttc atg gca aac 5909 Gly Val Ser Leu Pro Gly Glu Gly Tyr Ile Thr Phe Met Ala Asn 1890 1895 1900 agt gga ctc ccg gac aaa tca gaa act gcc tct gct acg tct ttc 5954 Ser Gly Leu Pro Asp Lys Ser Glu Thr Ala Ser Ala Thr Ser Phe 1905 1910 1915 ccg cca tcc tat gac agt gtc acc agg ggc ctg agt gac cgg gcc 5999 Pro Pro Ser Tyr Asp Ser Val Thr Arg Gly Leu Ser Asp Arg Ala 1920 1925 1930 aac att aac cca tct agc tca atg caa aat gaa gat gag gtc gct 6044 Asn Ile Asn Pro Ser Ser Ser Met Gln Asn Glu Asp Glu Val Ala 1935 1940 1945 gct aag gaa gga aac agc cct gga cct cag tgaaggcact caggcatgca 6094 Ala Lys Glu Gly Asn Ser Pro Gly Pro Gln 1950 1955 cagggcaggt tccaatgtct ttctctgctg tactaactcc ttccctctgg aggtggcacc 6154 aacctccagc ctccaccaat gcatgtcact ggtcatggtg tcagaactga atggggacat 6214 ccttgagaaa gcccccaccc caataggaat caaaagccaa ggatactcct ccattctgac 6274 gtcccttccg agttcccaga agatgtcatt gctcccttct gtttgtgacc agagacgtga 6334 ttcaccaact tctcggagcc agagacacat agcaaagact tttctgctgg tgtcgggcag 6394 tcttagagaa gtcacgtagg ggttggtact gagaattagg gtttgcatga ctgcatgctc 6454 acagctgccg gacaatacct gtgagtcggc cattaaaatt aatattttta aagttaaaaa 6514 aaaaaaaaaa 6524 2 1957 PRT Rattus norvegicus 2 Met Glu Leu Pro Phe Ala Ser Val Gly Thr Thr Asn Phe Arg Arg Phe 1 5 10 15 Thr Pro Glu Ser Leu Ala Glu Ile Glu Lys Gln Ile Ala Ala His Arg 20 25 30 Ala Ala Lys Lys Ala Arg Thr Lys His Arg Gly Gln Glu Asp Lys Gly 35 40 45 Glu Lys Pro Arg Pro Gln Leu Asp Leu Lys Asp Cys Asn Gln Leu Pro 50 55 60 Lys Phe Tyr Gly Glu Leu Pro Ala Glu Leu Val Gly Glu Pro Leu Glu 65 70 75 80 Asp Leu Asp Pro Phe Tyr Ser Thr His Arg Thr Phe Met Val Leu Asn 85 90 95 Lys Ser Arg Thr Ile Ser Arg Phe Ser Ala Thr Trp Ala Leu Trp Leu 100 105 110 Phe Ser Pro Phe Asn Leu Ile Arg Arg Thr Ala Ile Lys Val Ser Val 115 120 125 His Ser Trp Phe Ser Ile Phe Ile Thr Ile Thr Ile Leu Val Asn Cys 130 135 140 Val Cys Met Thr Arg Thr Asp Leu Pro Glu Lys Val Glu Tyr Val Phe 145 150 155 160 Thr Val Ile Tyr Thr Phe Glu Ala Leu Ile Lys Ile Leu Ala Arg Gly 165 170 175 Phe Cys Leu Asn Glu Phe Thr Tyr Leu Arg Asp Pro Trp Asn Trp Leu 180 185 190 Asp Phe Ser Val Ile Thr Leu Ala Tyr Val Gly Ala Ala Ile Asp Leu 195 200 205 Arg Gly Ile Ser Gly Leu Arg Thr Phe Arg Val Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys 210 215 220 Thr Val Ser Val Ile Pro Gly Leu Lys Val Ile Val Gly Ala Leu Ile 225 230 235 240 His Ser Val Arg Lys Leu Ala Asp Val Thr Ile Leu Thr Val Phe Cys 245 250 255 Leu Ser Val Phe Ala Leu Val Gly Leu Gln Leu Phe Lys Gly Asn Leu 260 265 270 Lys Asn Lys Cys Ile Arg Asn Gly Thr Asp Pro His Lys Ala Asp Asn 275 280 285 Leu Ser Ser Glu Met Ala Glu Tyr Ile Phe Ile Lys Pro Gly Thr Thr 290 295 300 Asp Pro Leu Leu Cys Gly Asn Gly Ser Asp Ala Gly His Cys Pro Gly 305 310 315 320 Gly Tyr Val Cys Leu Lys Thr Pro Asp Asn Pro Asp Phe Asn Tyr Thr 325 330 335 Ser Phe Asp Ser Phe Ala Trp Ala Phe Leu Ser Leu Phe Arg Leu Met 340 345 350 Thr Gln Asp Ser Trp Glu Arg Leu Tyr Gln Gln Thr Leu Arg Ala Ser 355 360 365 Gly Lys Met Tyr Met Val Phe Phe Val Leu Val Ile Phe Leu Gly Ser 370 375 380 Phe Tyr Leu Val Asn Leu Ile Leu Ala Val Val Thr Met Ala Tyr Glu 385 390 395 400 Glu Gln Ser Gln Ala Thr Ile Ala Glu Ile Glu Ala Lys Glu Lys Lys 405 410 415 Phe Gln Glu Ala Leu Glu Val Leu Gln Lys Glu Gln Glu Val Leu Glu 420 425 430 Ala Leu Gly Ile Asp Thr Thr Ser Leu Gln Ser His Ser Gly Ser Pro 435 440 445 Leu Ala Ser Lys Asn Ala Asn Glu Arg Arg Pro Arg Val Lys Ser Arg 450 455 460 Val Ser Glu Gly Ser Thr Asp Asp Asn Arg Ser Pro Gln Ser Asp Pro 465 470 475 480 Tyr Asn Gln Arg Arg Met Ser Phe Leu Gly Leu Ser Ser Gly Arg Arg 485 490 495 Arg Ala Ser His Gly Ser Val Phe His Phe Arg Ala Pro Ser Gln Asp 500 505 510 Ile Ser Phe Pro Asp Gly Ile Thr Pro Asp Asp Gly Val Phe His Gly 515 520 525 Asp Gln Glu Ser Arg Arg Gly Ser Ile Leu Leu Gly Arg Gly Ala Gly 530 535 540 Gln Thr Gly Pro Leu Pro Arg Ser Pro Leu Pro Gln Ser Pro Asn Pro 545 550 555 560 Gly Arg Arg His Gly Glu Glu Gly Gln Leu Gly Val Pro Thr Gly Glu 565 570 575 Leu Thr Ala Gly Ala Pro Glu Gly Pro Ala Leu His Thr Thr Gly Gln 580 585 590 Lys Ser Phe Leu Ser Ala Gly Tyr Leu Asn Glu Pro Phe Arg Ala Gln 595 600 605 Arg Ala Met Ser Val Val Ser Ile Met Thr Ser Val Ile Glu Glu Leu 610 615 620 Glu Glu Ser Lys Leu Lys Cys Pro Pro Cys Leu Ile Ser Phe Ala Gln 625 630 635 640 Lys Tyr Leu Ile Trp Glu Cys Cys Pro Lys Trp Arg Lys Phe Lys Met 645 650 655 Ala Leu Phe Glu Leu Val Thr Asp Pro Phe Ala Glu Leu Thr Ile Thr 660 665 670 Leu Cys Ile Val Val Asn Thr Val Phe Met Ala Met Glu His Tyr Pro 675 680 685 Met Thr Asp Ala Phe Asp Ala Met Leu Gln Ala Gly Asn Ile Val Phe 690 695 700 Thr Val Phe Phe Thr Met Glu Met Ala Phe Lys Ile Ile Ala Phe Asp 705 710 715 720 Pro Tyr Tyr Tyr Phe Gln Lys Lys Trp Asn Ile Phe Asp Cys Val Ile 725 730 735 Val Thr Val Ser Leu Leu Glu Leu Ser Ala Ser Lys Lys Gly Ser Leu 740 745 750 Ser Val Leu Arg Thr Leu Arg Leu Leu Arg Val Phe Lys Leu Ala Lys 755 760 765 Ser Trp Pro Thr Leu Asn Thr Leu Ile Lys Ile Ile Gly Asn Ser Val 770 775 780 Gly Ala Leu Gly Asn Leu Thr Phe Ile Leu Ala Ile Ile Val Phe Ile 785 790 795 800 Phe Ala Leu Val Gly Lys Gln Leu Leu Ser Glu Asp Tyr Gly Cys Arg 805 810 815 Lys Asp Gly Val Ser Val Trp Asn Gly Glu Lys Leu Arg Trp His Met 820 825 830 Cys Asp Phe Phe His Ser Phe Leu Val Val Phe Arg Ile Leu Cys Gly 835 840 845 Glu Trp Ile Glu Asn Met Trp Val Cys Met Glu Val Ser Gln Lys Ser 850 855 860 Ile Cys Leu Ile Leu Phe Leu Thr Val Met Val Leu Gly Asn Leu Val 865 870 875 880 Val Leu Asn Leu Phe Ile Ala Leu Leu Leu Asn Ser Phe Ser Ala Asp 885 890 895 Asn Leu Thr Ala Pro Glu Asp Asp Gly Glu Val Asn Asn Leu Gln Leu 900 905 910 Ala Leu Ala Arg Ile Gln Val Leu Gly His Arg Ala Ser Arg Ala Ile 915 920 925 Ala Ser Tyr Ile Ser Ser His Cys Arg Phe His Trp Pro Lys Val Glu 930 935 940 Thr Gln Leu Gly Met Lys Pro Pro Leu Thr Ser Ser Glu Ala Lys Asn 945 950 955 960 His Ile Ala Thr Asp Ala Val Ser Ala Ala Val Gly Asn Leu Thr Lys 965 970 975 Pro Ala Leu Ser Ser Pro Lys Glu Asn His Gly Asp Phe Ile Thr Asp 980 985 990 Pro Asn Val Trp Val Ser Val Pro Ile Ala Glu Gly Glu Ser Asp Leu 995 1000 1005 Asp Glu Leu Glu Glu Asp Met Glu Gln Ala Ser Gln Ser Ser Trp 1010 1015 1020 Gln Glu Glu Asp Pro Lys Gly Gln Gln Glu Gln Leu Pro Gln Val 1025 1030 1035 Gln Lys Cys Glu Asn His Gln Ala Ala Arg Ser Pro Ala Ser Met 1040 1045 1050 Met Ser Ser Glu Asp Leu Ala Pro Tyr Leu Gly Glu Ser Trp Lys 1055 1060 1065 Arg Lys Asp Ser Pro Gln Val Pro Ala Glu Gly Val Asp Asp Thr 1070 1075 1080 Ser Ser Ser Glu Gly Ser Thr Val Asp Cys Pro Asp Pro Glu Glu 1085 1090 1095 Ile Leu Arg Lys Ile Pro Glu Leu Ala Asp Asp Leu Asp Glu Pro 1100 1105 1110 Asp Asp Cys Phe Thr Glu Gly Cys Thr Arg Arg Cys Pro Cys Cys 1115 1120 1125 Asn Val Asn Thr Ser Lys Ser Pro Trp Ala Thr Gly Trp Gln Val 1130 1135 1140 Arg Lys Thr Cys Tyr Arg Ile Val Glu His Ser Trp Phe Glu Ser 1145 1150 1155 Phe Ile Ile Phe Met Ile Leu Leu Ser Ser Gly Ala Leu Ala Phe 1160 1165 1170 Glu Asp Asn Tyr Leu Glu Glu Lys Pro Arg Val Lys Ser Val Leu 1175 1180 1185 Glu Tyr Thr Asp Arg Val Phe Thr Phe Ile Phe Val Phe Glu Met 1190 1195 1200 Leu Leu Lys Trp Val Ala Tyr Gly Phe Lys Lys Tyr Phe Thr Asn 1205 1210 1215 Ala Trp Cys Trp Leu Asp Phe Leu Ile Val Asn Ile Ser Leu Thr 1220 1225 1230 Ser Leu Ile Ala Lys Ile Leu Glu Tyr Ser Asp Val Ala Ser Ile 1235 1240 1245 Lys Ala Leu Arg Thr Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Pro Leu Arg Ala Leu 1250 1255 1260 Ser Arg Phe Glu Gly Met Arg Val Val Val Asp Ala Leu Val Gly 1265 1270 1275 Ala Ile Pro Ser Ile Met Asn Val Leu Leu Val Cys Leu Ile Phe 1280 1285 1290 Trp Leu Ile Phe Ser Ile Met Gly Val Asn Leu Phe Ala Gly Lys 1295 1300 1305 Phe Ser Lys Cys Val Asp Thr Arg Asn Asn Pro Phe Ser Asn Val 1310 1315 1320 Asn Ser Thr Met Val Asn Asn Lys Ser Glu Cys His Asn Gln Asn 1325 1330 1335 Ser Thr Gly His Phe Phe Trp Val Asn Val Lys Val Asn Phe Asp 1340 1345 1350 Asn Val Ala Met Gly Tyr Leu Ala Leu Leu Gln Val Ala Thr Phe 1355 1360 1365 Lys Gly Trp Met Asp Ile Met Tyr Ala Ala Val Asp Ser Gly Glu 1370 1375 1380 Ile Asn Ser Gln Pro Asn Trp Glu Asn Asn Leu Tyr Met Tyr Leu 1385 1390 1395 Tyr Phe Val Val Phe Ile Ile Phe Gly Gly Phe Phe Thr Leu Asn 1400 1405 1410 Leu Phe Val Gly Val Ile Ile Asp Asn Phe Asn Gln Gln Lys Lys 1415 1420 1425 Lys Leu Gly Gly Gln Asp Ile Phe Met Thr Glu Glu Gln Lys Lys 1430 1435 1440 Tyr Tyr Asn Ala Met Lys Lys Leu Gly Ser Lys Lys Pro Gln Lys 1445 1450 1455 Pro Ile Pro Arg Pro Leu Asn Lys Tyr Gln Gly Phe Val Phe Asp 1460 1465 1470 Ile Val Thr Arg Gln Ala Phe Asp Ile Ile Ile Met Val Leu Ile 1475 1480 1485 Cys Leu Asn Met Ile Thr Met Met Val Glu Thr Asp Glu Gln Gly 1490 1495 1500 Glu Glu Lys Thr Lys Val Leu Gly Arg Ile Asn Gln Phe Phe Val 1505 1510 1515 Ala Val Phe Thr Gly Glu Cys Val Met Lys Met Phe Ala Leu Arg 1520 1525 1530 Gln Tyr Tyr Phe Thr Asn Gly Trp Asn Val Phe Asp Phe Ile Val 1535 1540 1545 Val Ile Leu Ser Ile Gly Ser Leu Leu Phe Ser Ala Ile Leu Lys 1550 1555 1560 Ser Leu Glu Asn Tyr Phe Ser Pro Thr Leu Phe Arg Val Ile Arg 1565 1570 1575 Leu Ala Arg Ile Gly Arg Ile Leu Arg Leu Ile Arg Ala Ala Lys 1580 1585 1590 Gly Ile Arg Thr Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu Met Met Ser Leu Pro Ala 1595 1600 1605 Leu Phe Asn Ile Gly Leu Leu Leu Phe Leu Val Met Phe Ile Tyr 1610 1615 1620 Ser Ile Phe Gly Met Ala Ser Phe Ala Asn Val Val Asp Glu Ala 1625 1630 1635 Gly Ile Asp Asp Met Phe Asn Phe Lys Thr Phe Gly Asn Ser Met 1640 1645 1650 Leu Cys Leu Phe Gln Ile Thr Thr Ser Ala Gly Trp Asp Gly Leu 1655 1660 1665 Leu Ser Pro Ile Leu Asn Thr Gly Pro Pro Tyr Cys Asp Pro Asn 1670 1675 1680 Leu Pro Asn Ser Asn Gly Ser Arg Gly Asn Cys Gly Ser Pro Ala 1685 1690 1695 Val Gly Ile Ile Phe Phe Thr Thr Tyr Ile Ile Ile Ser Phe Leu 1700 1705 1710 Ile Val Val Asn Met Tyr Ile Ala Val Ile Leu Glu Asn Phe Asn 1715 1720 1725 Val Ala Thr Glu Glu Ser Thr Glu Pro Leu Ser Glu Asp Asp Phe 1730 1735 1740 Asp Met Phe Tyr Glu Thr Trp Glu Lys Phe Asp Pro Glu Ala Thr 1745 1750 1755 Gln Phe Ile Ala Phe Ser Ala Leu Ser Asp Phe Ala Asp Thr Leu 1760 1765 1770 Ser Gly Pro Leu Arg Ile Pro Lys Pro Asn Gln Asn Ile Leu Ile 1775 1780 1785 Gln Met Asp Leu Pro Leu Val Pro Gly Asp Lys Ile His Cys Leu 1790 1795 1800 Asp Ile Leu Phe Ala Phe Thr Lys Asn Val Leu Gly Glu Ser Gly 1805 1810 1815 Glu Leu Asp Ser Leu Lys Thr Asn Met Glu Glu Lys Phe Met Ala 1820 1825 1830 Thr Asn Leu Ser Lys Ala Ser Tyr Glu Pro Ile Ala Thr Thr Leu 1835 1840 1845 Arg Trp Lys Gln Glu Asp Leu Ser Ala Thr Val Ile Gln Lys Ala 1850 1855 1860 Tyr Arg Ser Tyr Met Leu His Arg Ser Leu Thr Leu Ser Asn Thr 1865 1870 1875 Leu His Val Pro Arg Ala Glu Glu Asp Gly Val Ser Leu Pro Gly 1880 1885 1890 Glu Gly Tyr Ile Thr Phe Met Ala Asn Ser Gly Leu Pro Asp Lys 1895 1900 1905 Ser Glu Thr Ala Ser Ala Thr Ser Phe Pro Pro Ser Tyr Asp Ser 1910 1915 1920 Val Thr Arg Gly Leu Ser Asp Arg Ala Asn Ile Asn Pro Ser Ser 1925 1930 1935 Ser Met Gln Asn Glu Asp Glu Val Ala Ala Lys Glu Gly Asn Ser 1940 1945 1950 Pro Gly Pro Gln 1955 3 573 DNA Rattus norvegicus CDS (46)..(333) 3 aagactgcag cgcctcaggg cccaggtttc aacagattct tcaaa atg cca tcc caa 57 Met Pro Ser Gln 1 atg gag cat gcc atg gaa acc atg atg ctt aca ttt cac agg ttt gca 105 Met Glu His Ala Met Glu Thr Met Met Leu Thr Phe His Arg Phe Ala 5 10 15 20 ggg gaa aaa aac tac ttg aca aag gag gac ctg aga gtg ctc atg gaa 153 Gly Glu Lys Asn Tyr Leu Thr Lys Glu Asp Leu Arg Val Leu Met Glu 25 30 35 agg gag ttc cct ggg ttt ttg gaa aat caa aag gac cct ctg gct gtg 201 Arg Glu Phe Pro Gly Phe Leu Glu Asn Gln Lys Asp Pro Leu Ala Val 40 45 50 gac aaa ata atg aaa gac ctg gac cag tgc cga gat gga aaa gtg ggc 249 Asp Lys Ile Met Lys Asp Leu Asp Gln Cys Arg Asp Gly Lys Val Gly 55 60 65 ttc cag agc ttt cta tca cta gtg gcg ggg ctc atc att gca tgc aat 297 Phe Gln Ser Phe Leu Ser Leu Val Ala Gly Leu Ile Ile Ala Cys Asn 70 75 80 gac tat ttt gta gta cac atg aag cag aag aag tag gccaactgga 343 Asp Tyr Phe Val Val His Met Lys Gln Lys Lys 85 90 95 gccctggtac ccacaccttg atgcgtcctc tcccatgggg tcaactgagg aatctgcccc 403 actgcttcct gtgagcagat caggaccctt aggaaatgtg caaataacat ccaactccaa 463 ttcgacaagc agagaaagaa aagttaatcc aatgacagag gagctttcga gttttatatt 523 gtttgcatcc ggttgccctc aataaagaaa gtcttttttt ttaagttccg 573 4 95 PRT Rattus norvegicus 4 Met Pro Ser Gln Met Glu His Ala Met Glu Thr Met Met Leu Thr Phe 1 5 10 15 His Arg Phe Ala Gly Glu Lys Asn Tyr Leu Thr Lys Glu Asp Leu Arg 20 25 30 Val Leu Met Glu Arg Glu Phe Pro Gly Phe Leu Glu Asn Gln Lys Asp 35 40 45 Pro Leu Ala Val Asp Lys Ile Met Lys Asp Leu Asp Gln Cys Arg Asp 50 55 60 Gly Lys Val Gly Phe Gln Ser Phe Leu Ser Leu Val Ala Gly Leu Ile 65 70 75 80 Ile Ala Cys Asn Asp Tyr Phe Val Val His Met Lys Gln Lys Lys 85 90 95 5 5874 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(5874) 5 atg gaa ttc ccc att gga tcc ctc gaa act aac aac ttc cgt cgc ttt 48 Met Glu Phe Pro Ile Gly Ser Leu Glu Thr Asn Asn Phe Arg Arg Phe 1 5 10 15 act ccg gag tca ctg gtg gag ata gag aag caa att gct gcc aag cag 96 Thr Pro Glu Ser Leu Val Glu Ile Glu Lys Gln Ile Ala Ala Lys Gln 20 25 30 gga aca aag aaa gcc aga gag aag cat agg gag cag aag gac caa gaa 144 Gly Thr Lys Lys Ala Arg Glu Lys His Arg Glu Gln Lys Asp Gln Glu 35 40 45 gag aag cct cgg ccc cag ctg gac ttg aaa gcc tgc aac cag ctg ccc 192 Glu Lys Pro Arg Pro Gln Leu Asp Leu Lys Ala Cys Asn Gln Leu Pro 50 55 60 aag ttc tat ggt gag ctc cca gca gaa ctg atc ggg gag ccc ctg gag 240 Lys Phe Tyr Gly Glu Leu Pro Ala Glu Leu Ile Gly Glu Pro Leu Glu 65 70 75 80 gat cta gat ccg ttc tac agc aca cac cgg aca ttt atg gtg ctg aac 288 Asp Leu Asp Pro Phe Tyr Ser Thr His Arg Thr Phe Met Val Leu Asn 85 90 95 aaa ggg agg acc att tcc cgg ttt agt gcc act cgg gcc ctg tgg cta 336 Lys Gly Arg Thr Ile Ser Arg Phe Ser Ala Thr Arg Ala Leu Trp Leu 100 105 110 ttc agt cct ttc aac ctg atc aga aga acg gcc atc aaa gtg tct gtc 384 Phe Ser Pro Phe Asn Leu Ile Arg Arg Thr Ala Ile Lys Val Ser Val 115 120 125 cac tcg tgg ttc agt tta ttt att acg gtc act att ttg gtt aat tgt 432 His Ser Trp Phe Ser Leu Phe Ile Thr Val Thr Ile Leu Val Asn Cys 130 135 140 gtg tgc atg acc cga act gac ctt cca gag aaa att gaa tat gtc ttc 480 Val Cys Met Thr Arg Thr Asp Leu Pro Glu Lys Ile Glu Tyr Val Phe 145 150 155 160 act gtc att tac acc ttt gaa gcc ttg ata aag ata ctg gca aga gga 528 Thr Val Ile Tyr Thr Phe Glu Ala Leu Ile Lys Ile Leu Ala Arg Gly 165 170 175 ttt tgt cta aat gag ttc acg tac ctg aga gat cct tgg aac tgg ctg 576 Phe Cys Leu Asn Glu Phe Thr Tyr Leu Arg Asp Pro Trp Asn Trp Leu 180 185 190 gat ttt agc gtc att acc ctg gca tat gtt ggc aca gca ata gat ctc 624 Asp Phe Ser Val Ile Thr Leu Ala Tyr Val Gly Thr Ala Ile Asp Leu 195 200 205 cgt ggg atc tca ggc ctg cgg aca ttc aga gtt ctt aga gca tta aaa 672 Arg Gly Ile Ser Gly Leu Arg Thr Phe Arg Val Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys 210 215 220 aca gtt tct gtg atc cca ggc ctg aag gtc att gtg ggg gcc ctg att 720 Thr Val Ser Val Ile Pro Gly Leu Lys Val Ile Val Gly Ala Leu Ile 225 230 235 240 cac tca gtg aag aaa ctg gct gat gtg acc atc ctc acc atc ttc tgc 768 His Ser Val Lys Lys Leu Ala Asp Val Thr Ile Leu Thr Ile Phe Cys 245 250 255 cta agt gtt ttt gcc ttg gtg ggg ctg caa ctc ttc aag ggc aac ctc 816 Leu Ser Val Phe Ala Leu Val Gly Leu Gln Leu Phe Lys Gly Asn Leu 260 265 270 aaa aat aaa tgt gtc aag aat gac atg gct gtc aat gag aca acc aac 864 Lys Asn Lys Cys Val Lys Asn Asp Met Ala Val Asn Glu Thr Thr Asn 275 280 285 tac tca tct cac aga aaa cca gat atc tac ata aat aag cga ggc act 912 Tyr Ser Ser His Arg Lys Pro Asp Ile Tyr Ile Asn Lys Arg Gly Thr 290 295 300 tct gac ccc tta ctg tgt ggc aat gga tct gac tca ggc cac tgc cct 960 Ser Asp Pro Leu Leu Cys Gly Asn Gly Ser Asp Ser Gly His Cys Pro 305 310 315 320 gat ggt tat atc tgc ctt aaa act tct gac aac ccg gat ttt aac tac 1008 Asp Gly Tyr Ile Cys Leu Lys Thr Ser Asp Asn Pro Asp Phe Asn Tyr 325 330 335 acc agc ttt gat tcc ttt gct tgg gct ttc ctc tca ctg ttc cgc ctc 1056 Thr Ser Phe Asp Ser Phe Ala Trp Ala Phe Leu Ser Leu Phe Arg Leu 340 345 350 atg aca cag gat tcc tgg gaa cgc ctc tac cag cag acc ctg agg act 1104 Met Thr Gln Asp Ser Trp Glu Arg Leu Tyr Gln Gln Thr Leu Arg Thr 355 360 365 tct ggg aaa atc tat atg atc ttt ttt gtg ctc gta atc ttc ctg gga 1152 Ser Gly Lys Ile Tyr Met Ile Phe Phe Val Leu Val Ile Phe Leu Gly 370 375 380 tct ttc tac ctg gtc aac ttg atc ttg gct gta gtc acc atg gcg tat 1200 Ser Phe Tyr Leu Val Asn Leu Ile Leu Ala Val Val Thr Met Ala Tyr 385 390 395 400 gag gag cag aac cag gca acc act gat gaa att gaa gca aag gag aag 1248 Glu Glu Gln Asn Gln Ala Thr Thr Asp Glu Ile Glu Ala Lys Glu Lys 405 410 415 aag ttc cag gag gcc ctc gag atg ctc cgg aag gag cag gag gtg cta 1296 Lys Phe Gln Glu Ala Leu Glu Met Leu Arg Lys Glu Gln Glu Val Leu 420 425 430 gca gca cta ggg att gac aca acc tct ctc cac tcc cac aat gga tca 1344 Ala Ala Leu Gly Ile Asp Thr Thr Ser Leu His Ser His Asn Gly Ser 435 440 445 cct tta acc tcc aaa aat gcc agt gag aga agg cat aga ata aag cca 1392 Pro Leu Thr Ser Lys Asn Ala Ser Glu Arg Arg His Arg Ile Lys Pro 450 455 460 aga gtg tca gag ggc tcc aca gaa gac aac aaa tca ccc cgc tct gat 1440 Arg Val Ser Glu Gly Ser Thr Glu Asp Asn Lys Ser Pro Arg Ser Asp 465 470 475 480 cct tac aac cag cgc agg atg tct ttt cta ggc ctc gcc tct gga aaa 1488 Pro Tyr Asn Gln Arg Arg Met Ser Phe Leu Gly Leu Ala Ser Gly Lys 485 490 495 cgc cgg gct agt cat ggc agt gtg ttc cat ttc cgg tcc cct ggc cga 1536 Arg Arg Ala Ser His Gly Ser Val Phe His Phe Arg Ser Pro Gly Arg 500 505 510 gat atc tca ctc cct gag gga gtc aca gat gat gga gtc ttt cct gga 1584 Asp Ile Ser Leu Pro Glu Gly Val Thr Asp Asp Gly Val Phe Pro Gly 515 520 525 gac cac gaa agc cat cgg ggc tct ctg ctg ctg ggt ggg ggt gct ggc 1632 Asp His Glu Ser His Arg Gly Ser Leu Leu Leu Gly Gly Gly Ala Gly 530 535 540 cag caa ggc ccc ctc cct aga agc cct ctt cct caa ccc agc aac cct 1680 Gln Gln Gly Pro Leu Pro Arg Ser Pro Leu Pro Gln Pro Ser Asn Pro 545 550 555 560 gac tcc agg cat gga gaa gat gaa cac caa ccg ccg ccc act agt gag 1728 Asp Ser Arg His Gly Glu Asp Glu His Gln Pro Pro Pro Thr Ser Glu 565 570 575 ctt gcc cct gga gct gtc gat gtc tcg gca ttc gat gca gga caa aag 1776 Leu Ala Pro Gly Ala Val Asp Val Ser Ala Phe Asp Ala Gly Gln Lys 580 585 590 aag act ttc ttg tca gca gaa tac tta gat gaa cct ttc cgg gcc caa 1824 Lys Thr Phe Leu Ser Ala Glu Tyr Leu Asp Glu Pro Phe Arg Ala Gln 595 600 605 agg gca atg agt gtt gtc agt atc ata acc tcc gtc ctt gag gaa ctc 1872 Arg Ala Met Ser Val Val Ser Ile Ile Thr Ser Val Leu Glu Glu Leu 610 615 620 gag gag tct gaa cag aag tgc cca ccc tgc ttg acc agc ttg tct cag 1920 Glu Glu Ser Glu Gln Lys Cys Pro Pro Cys Leu Thr Ser Leu Ser Gln 625 630 635 640 aag tat ctg atc tgg gat tgc tgc ccc atg tgg gtg aag ctc aag aca 1968 Lys Tyr Leu Ile Trp Asp Cys Cys Pro Met Trp Val Lys Leu Lys Thr 645 650 655 att ctc ttt ggg ctt gtg acg gat ccc ttt gca gag ctc acc atc acc 2016 Ile Leu Phe Gly Leu Val Thr Asp Pro Phe Ala Glu Leu Thr Ile Thr 660 665 670 ttg tgc atc gtg gtg aac acc atc ttc atg gcc atg gag cac cat ggc 2064 Leu Cys Ile Val Val Asn Thr Ile Phe Met Ala Met Glu His His Gly 675 680 685 atg agc cct acc ttc gaa gcc atg ctc cag ata ggc aac atc gtc ttt 2112 Met Ser Pro Thr Phe Glu Ala Met Leu Gln Ile Gly Asn Ile Val Phe 690 695 700 acc ata ttt ttt act gct gaa atg gtc ttc aaa atc att gcc ttc gac 2160 Thr Ile Phe Phe Thr Ala Glu Met Val Phe Lys Ile Ile Ala Phe Asp 705 710 715 720 cca tac tat tat ttc cag aag aag tgg aat atc ttt gac tgc atc atc 2208 Pro Tyr Tyr Tyr Phe Gln Lys Lys Trp Asn Ile Phe Asp Cys Ile Ile 725 730 735 gtc act gtg agt ctg cta gag ctg ggc gtg gcc aag aag gga agc ctg 2256 Val Thr Val Ser Leu Leu Glu Leu Gly Val Ala Lys Lys Gly Ser Leu 740 745 750 tct gtg ctg cgg agc ttc cgc ttg ctg cgc gta ttc aag ctg gcc aaa 2304 Ser Val Leu Arg Ser Phe Arg Leu Leu Arg Val Phe Lys Leu Ala Lys 755 760 765 tcc tgg ccc acc tta aac aca ctc atc aag atc atc gga aac tca gtg 2352 Ser Trp Pro Thr Leu Asn Thr Leu Ile Lys Ile Ile Gly Asn Ser Val 770 775 780 ggg gca ctg ggg aac ctc acc atc atc ctg gcc atc att gtc ttt gtc 2400 Gly Ala Leu Gly Asn Leu Thr Ile Ile Leu Ala Ile Ile Val Phe Val 785 790 795 800 ttt gct ctg gtt ggc aag cag ctc cta ggg gaa aac tac cgt aac aac 2448 Phe Ala Leu Val Gly Lys Gln Leu Leu Gly Glu Asn Tyr Arg Asn Asn 805 810 815 cga aaa aat atc tcc gcg ccc cat gaa gac tgg ccc cgc tgg cac atg 2496 Arg Lys Asn Ile Ser Ala Pro His Glu Asp Trp Pro Arg Trp His Met 820 825 830 cac gac ttc ttc cac tct ttc ctc att gtc ttc cgt atc ctc tgt gga 2544 His Asp Phe Phe His Ser Phe Leu Ile Val Phe Arg Ile Leu Cys Gly 835 840 845 gag tgg att gag aac atg tgg gcc tgc atg gaa gtt ggc caa aaa tcc 2592 Glu Trp Ile Glu Asn Met Trp Ala Cys Met Glu Val Gly Gln Lys Ser 850 855 860 ata tgc ctc atc ctt ttc ttg acg gtg atg gtg cta ggg aac ctg gtg 2640 Ile Cys Leu Ile Leu Phe Leu Thr Val Met Val Leu Gly Asn Leu Val 865 870 875 880 gtg ctt aac ctg ttc atc gcc ctg cta ttg aac tct ttc agt gct gac 2688 Val Leu Asn Leu Phe Ile Ala Leu Leu Leu Asn Ser Phe Ser Ala Asp 885 890 895 aac ctc aca gcc ccg gag gac gat ggg gag gtg aac aac ctg cag gtg 2736 Asn Leu Thr Ala Pro Glu Asp Asp Gly Glu Val Asn Asn Leu Gln Val 900 905 910 gcc ctg gca cgg atc cag gtc ttt ggc cat cgt acc aaa cag gct ctt 2784 Ala Leu Ala Arg Ile Gln Val Phe Gly His Arg Thr Lys Gln Ala Leu 915 920 925 tgc agc ttc ttc agc agg tcc tgc cca ttc ccc cag ccc aag gca gag 2832 Cys Ser Phe Phe Ser Arg Ser Cys Pro Phe Pro Gln Pro Lys Ala Glu 930 935 940 cct gag ctg gtg gtg aaa ctc cca ctc tcc agc tcc aag gct gag aac 2880 Pro Glu Leu Val Val Lys Leu Pro Leu Ser Ser Ser Lys Ala Glu Asn 945 950 955 960 cac att gct gcc aac act gcc agg ggg agc tct gga ggg ctc caa gct 2928 His Ile Ala Ala Asn Thr Ala Arg Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly Leu Gln Ala 965 970 975 ccc aga ggc ccc agg gat gag cac agt gac ttc atc gct aat ccg act 2976 Pro Arg Gly Pro Arg Asp Glu His Ser Asp Phe Ile Ala Asn Pro Thr 980 985 990 gtg tgg gtc tct gtg ccc att gct gag ggt gaa tct gat ctt gat gac 3024 Val Trp Val Ser Val Pro Ile Ala Glu Gly Glu Ser Asp Leu Asp Asp 995 1000 1005 ttg gag gat gat ggt ggg gaa gat gct cag agc ttc cag cag gaa 3069 Leu Glu Asp Asp Gly Gly Glu Asp Ala Gln Ser Phe Gln Gln Glu 1010 1015 1020 gtg atc ccc aaa gga cag cag gag cag ctg cag caa gtc gag agg 3114 Val Ile Pro Lys Gly Gln Gln Glu Gln Leu Gln Gln Val Glu Arg 1025 1030 1035 tgt ggg gac cac ctg aca ccc agg agc cca ggc act gga aca tct 3159 Cys Gly Asp His Leu Thr Pro Arg Ser Pro Gly Thr Gly Thr Ser 1040 1045 1050 tct gag gac ctg gct cca tcc ctg ggt gag acg tgg aaa gat gag 3204 Ser Glu Asp Leu Ala Pro Ser Leu Gly Glu Thr Trp Lys Asp Glu 1055 1060 1065 tct gtt cct cag gcc cct gct gag gga gtg gac gac aca agc tcc 3249 Ser Val Pro Gln Ala Pro Ala Glu Gly Val Asp Asp Thr Ser Ser 1070 1075 1080 tct gag ggc agc acg gtg gac tgc cta gat cct gag gaa atc ctg 3294 Ser Glu Gly Ser Thr Val Asp Cys Leu Asp Pro Glu Glu Ile Leu 1085 1090 1095 agg aag atc cct gag ctg gca gat gac ctg gaa gaa cca gat gac 3339 Arg Lys Ile Pro Glu Leu Ala Asp Asp Leu Glu Glu Pro Asp Asp 1100 1105 1110 tgc ttc aca gaa gga tgc att cgc cac tgt ccc tgc tgc aaa ctg 3384 Cys Phe Thr Glu Gly Cys Ile Arg His Cys Pro Cys Cys Lys Leu 1115 1120 1125 gat acc acc aag agt cca tgg gat gtg ggc tgg cag gtg cgc aag 3429 Asp Thr Thr Lys Ser Pro Trp Asp Val Gly Trp Gln Val Arg Lys 1130 1135 1140 act tgc tac cgt atc gtg gag cac agc tgg ttt gag agc ttc atc 3474 Thr Cys Tyr Arg Ile Val Glu His Ser Trp Phe Glu Ser Phe Ile 1145 1150 1155 atc ttc atg atc ctg ctc agc agt gga tct ctg gcc ttt gaa gac 3519 Ile Phe Met Ile Leu Leu Ser Ser Gly Ser Leu Ala Phe Glu Asp 1160 1165 1170 tat tac ctg gac cag aag ccc acg gtg aaa gct ttg ctg gag tac 3564 Tyr Tyr Leu Asp Gln Lys Pro Thr Val Lys Ala Leu Leu Glu Tyr 1175 1180 1185 act gac agg gtc ttc acc ttt atc ttt gtg ttc gag atg ctg ctt 3609 Thr Asp Arg Val Phe Thr Phe Ile Phe Val Phe Glu Met Leu Leu 1190 1195 1200 aag tgg gtg gcc tat ggc ttc aaa aag tac ttc acc aat gcc tgg 3654 Lys Trp Val Ala Tyr Gly Phe Lys Lys Tyr Phe Thr Asn Ala Trp 1205 1210 1215 tgc tgg ctg gac ttc ctc att gtg aat atc tca ctg ata agt ctc 3699 Cys Trp Leu Asp Phe Leu Ile Val Asn Ile Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu 1220 1225 1230 aca gcg aag att ctg gaa tat tct gaa gtg gct ccc atc aaa gcc 3744 Thr Ala Lys Ile Leu Glu Tyr Ser Glu Val Ala Pro Ile Lys Ala 1235 1240 1245 ctt cga acc ctt cgc gct ctg cgg cca ctg cgg gct ctt tct cga 3789 Leu Arg Thr Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Pro Leu Arg Ala Leu Ser Arg 1250 1255 1260 ttt gaa ggc atg cgg gtg gtg gtg gat gcc ctg gtg ggc gcc atc 3834 Phe Glu Gly Met Arg Val Val Val Asp Ala Leu Val Gly Ala Ile 1265 1270 1275 cca tcc atc atg aat gtc ctc ctc gtc tgc ctc atc ttc tgg ctc 3879 Pro Ser Ile Met Asn Val Leu Leu Val Cys Leu Ile Phe Trp Leu 1280 1285 1290 atc ttc agc atc atg ggt gtg aac ctc ttc gca ggg aag ttt tgg 3924 Ile Phe Ser Ile Met Gly Val Asn Leu Phe Ala Gly Lys Phe Trp 1295 1300 1305 agg tgc atc aac tat acc gat gga gag ttt tcc ctt gta cct ttg 3969 Arg Cys Ile Asn Tyr Thr Asp Gly Glu Phe Ser Leu Val Pro Leu 1310 1315 1320 tcg att gtg aat aac aag tct gac tgc aag att caa aac tcc act 4014 Ser Ile Val Asn Asn Lys Ser Asp Cys Lys Ile Gln Asn Ser Thr 1325 1330 1335 ggc agc ttc ttc tgg gtc aat gtg aaa gtc aac ttt gat aat gtt 4059 Gly Ser Phe Phe Trp Val Asn Val Lys Val Asn Phe Asp Asn Val 1340 1345 1350 gca atg ggt tac ctt gca ctt ctg cag gtg gca acc ttt aaa ggc 4104 Ala Met Gly Tyr Leu Ala Leu Leu Gln Val Ala Thr Phe Lys Gly 1355 1360 1365 tgg atg gac att atg tat gca gct gtt gat tcc cgg gag gtc aac 4149 Trp Met Asp Ile Met Tyr Ala Ala Val Asp Ser Arg Glu Val Asn 1370 1375 1380 atg caa ccc aag tgg gag gac aac gtg tac atg tat ttg tac ttt 4194 Met Gln Pro Lys Trp Glu Asp Asn Val Tyr Met Tyr Leu Tyr Phe 1385 1390 1395 gtc atc ttc atc att ttt gga ggc ttc ttc aca ctg aat ctc ttt 4239 Val Ile Phe Ile Ile Phe Gly Gly Phe Phe Thr Leu Asn Leu Phe 1400 1405 1410 gtt ggg gtc ata att gac aac ttc aat caa cag aaa aaa aag tta 4284 Val Gly Val Ile Ile Asp Asn Phe Asn Gln Gln Lys Lys Lys Leu 1415 1420 1425 ggg ggc cag gac atc ttc atg aca gag gag cag aag aaa tac tac 4329 Gly Gly Gln Asp Ile Phe Met Thr Glu Glu Gln Lys Lys Tyr Tyr 1430 1435 1440 aat gcc atg aag aag ttg ggc tcc aag aag ccc cag aag ccc atc 4374 Asn Ala Met Lys Lys Leu Gly Ser Lys Lys Pro Gln Lys Pro Ile 1445 1450 1455 cca cgg ccc ctg aac aag ttc cag ggt ttt gtc ttt gac atc gtg 4419 Pro Arg Pro Leu Asn Lys Phe Gln Gly Phe Val Phe Asp Ile Val 1460 1465 1470 acc aga caa gct ttt gac atc acc atc atg gtc ctc atc tgc ctc 4464 Thr Arg Gln Ala Phe Asp Ile Thr Ile Met Val Leu Ile Cys Leu 1475 1480 1485 aac atg atc acc atg atg gtg gag act gat gac caa agt gaa gaa 4509 Asn Met Ile Thr Met Met Val Glu Thr Asp Asp Gln Ser Glu Glu 1490 1495 1500 aag acg aaa att ctg ggc aaa atc aac cag ttc ttt gtg gcc gtc 4554 Lys Thr Lys Ile Leu Gly Lys Ile Asn Gln Phe Phe Val Ala Val 1505 1510 1515 ttc aca ggc gaa tgt gtc atg aag atg ttc gct ttg agg cag tac 4599 Phe Thr Gly Glu Cys Val Met Lys Met Phe Ala Leu Arg Gln Tyr 1520 1525 1530 tac ttc aca aat ggc tgg aat gtg ttt gac ttc att gtg gtg gtt 4644 Tyr Phe Thr Asn Gly Trp Asn Val Phe Asp Phe Ile Val Val Val 1535 1540 1545 ctc tcc att gcg agc ctg att ttt tct gca att ctt aag tca ctt 4689 Leu Ser Ile Ala Ser Leu Ile Phe Ser Ala Ile Leu Lys Ser Leu 1550 1555 1560 caa agt tac ttc tcc cca acg ctc ttc aga gtc atc cgc ctg gcc 4734 Gln Ser Tyr Phe Ser Pro Thr Leu Phe Arg Val Ile Arg Leu Ala 1565 1570 1575 cga att ggc cgc atc ctc aga ctg atc cga gcg gcc aag ggg atc 4779 Arg Ile Gly Arg Ile Leu Arg Leu Ile Arg Ala Ala Lys Gly Ile 1580 1585 1590 cgc aca ctg ctc ttt gcc ctc atg atg tcc ctg cct gcc ctc ttc 4824 Arg Thr Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu Met Met Ser Leu Pro Ala Leu Phe 1595 1600 1605 aac atc ggg ctg ttg cta ttc ctt gtc atg ttc atc tac tcc atc 4869 Asn Ile Gly Leu Leu Leu Phe Leu Val Met Phe Ile Tyr Ser Ile 1610 1615 1620 ttc ggt atg tcc agc ttt ccc cat gtg agg tgg gag gct ggc atc 4914 Phe Gly Met Ser Ser Phe Pro His Val Arg Trp Glu Ala Gly Ile 1625 1630 1635 gac gac atg ttc aac ttc cag acc ttc gcc aac agc atg ctg tgc 4959 Asp Asp Met Phe Asn Phe Gln Thr Phe Ala Asn Ser Met Leu Cys 1640 1645 1650 ctc ttc cag att acc acg tcg gcc ggc tgg gat ggc ctc ctc agc 5004 Leu Phe Gln Ile Thr Thr Ser Ala Gly Trp Asp Gly Leu Leu Ser 1655 1660 1665 ccc atc ctc aac aca ggg ccc ccc tac tgt gac ccc aat ctg ccc 5049 Pro Ile Leu Asn Thr Gly Pro Pro Tyr Cys Asp Pro Asn Leu Pro 1670 1675 1680 aac agc aat ggc acc aga ggg gac tgt ggg agc cca gcc gta ggc 5094 Asn Ser Asn Gly Thr Arg Gly Asp Cys Gly Ser Pro Ala Val Gly 1685 1690 1695 atc atc ttc ttc acc acc tac atc atc atc tcc ttc ctc atc gtg 5139 Ile Ile Phe Phe Thr Thr Tyr Ile Ile Ile Ser Phe Leu Ile Val 1700 1705 1710 gtc aac atg tac att gca gtg att ctg gag aac ttc aat gtg gcc 5184 Val Asn Met Tyr Ile Ala Val Ile Leu Glu Asn Phe Asn Val Ala 1715 1720 1725 acg gag gag agc act gag cct ctg agt gag gac gac ttt gac atg 5229 Thr Glu Glu Ser Thr Glu Pro Leu Ser Glu Asp Asp Phe Asp Met 1730 1735 1740 ttc tat gag acc tgg gag aag ttt gac cca gag gcc act cag ttt 5274 Phe Tyr Glu Thr Trp Glu Lys Phe Asp Pro Glu Ala Thr Gln Phe 1745 1750 1755 att acc ttt tct gct ctc tcg gac ttt gca gac act ctc tct ggt 5319 Ile Thr Phe Ser Ala Leu Ser Asp Phe Ala Asp Thr Leu Ser Gly 1760 1765 1770 ccc ctg aga atc cca aaa ccc aat cga aat ata ctg atc cag atg 5364 Pro Leu Arg Ile Pro Lys Pro Asn Arg Asn Ile Leu Ile Gln Met 1775 1780 1785 gac ctg cct ttg gtc cct gga gat aag atc cac tgc ttg gac atc 5409 Asp Leu Pro Leu Val Pro Gly Asp Lys Ile His Cys Leu Asp Ile 1790 1795 1800 ctt ttt gct ttc acc aag aat gtc cta gga gaa tcc ggg gag ttg 5454 Leu Phe Ala Phe Thr Lys Asn Val Leu Gly Glu Ser Gly Glu Leu 1805 1810 1815 gat tct ctg aag gca aat atg gag gag aag ttt atg gca act aat 5499 Asp Ser Leu Lys Ala Asn Met Glu Glu Lys Phe Met Ala Thr Asn 1820 1825 1830 ctt tca aaa tca tcc tat gaa cca ata gca acc act ctc cga tgg 5544 Leu Ser Lys Ser Ser Tyr Glu Pro Ile Ala Thr Thr Leu Arg Trp 1835 1840 1845 aag caa gaa gac att tca gcc act gtc att caa aag gcc tat cgg 5589 Lys Gln Glu Asp Ile Ser Ala Thr Val Ile Gln Lys Ala Tyr Arg 1850 1855 1860 agc tat gtg ctg cac cgc tcc atg gca ctc tct aac acc cca tgt 5634 Ser Tyr Val Leu His Arg Ser Met Ala Leu Ser Asn Thr Pro Cys 1865 1870 1875 gtg ccc aga gct gag gag gag gct gca tca ctc cca gat gaa ggt 5679 Val Pro Arg Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Ala Ser Leu Pro Asp Glu Gly 1880 1885 1890 ttt gtt gca ttc aca gca aat gaa aat tgt gta ctc cca gac aaa 5724 Phe Val Ala Phe Thr Ala Asn Glu Asn Cys Val Leu Pro Asp Lys 1895 1900 1905 tct gaa act gct tct gcc aca tca ttc cca ccg tcc tat gag agt 5769 Ser Glu Thr Ala Ser Ala Thr Ser Phe Pro Pro Ser Tyr Glu Ser 1910 1915 1920 gtc act aga ggc ctt agt gat aga gtc aac atg agg aca tct agc 5814 Val Thr Arg Gly Leu Ser Asp Arg Val Asn Met Arg Thr Ser Ser 1925 1930 1935 tca ata caa aat gaa gat gaa gcc acc agt atg gag ctg att gcc 5859 Ser Ile Gln Asn Glu Asp Glu Ala Thr Ser Met Glu Leu Ile Ala 1940 1945 1950 cct ggg ccc tag tga 5874 Pro Gly Pro 1955 6 1956 PRT Homo sapiens 6 Met Glu Phe Pro Ile Gly Ser Leu Glu Thr Asn Asn Phe Arg Arg Phe 1 5 10 15 Thr Pro Glu Ser Leu Val Glu Ile Glu Lys Gln Ile Ala Ala Lys Gln 20 25 30 Gly Thr Lys Lys Ala Arg Glu Lys His Arg Glu Gln Lys Asp Gln Glu 35 40 45 Glu Lys Pro Arg Pro Gln Leu Asp Leu Lys Ala Cys Asn Gln Leu Pro 50 55 60 Lys Phe Tyr Gly Glu Leu Pro Ala Glu Leu Ile Gly Glu Pro Leu Glu 65 70 75 80 Asp Leu Asp Pro Phe Tyr Ser Thr His Arg Thr Phe Met Val Leu Asn 85 90 95 Lys Gly Arg Thr Ile Ser Arg Phe Ser Ala Thr Arg Ala Leu Trp Leu 100 105 110 Phe Ser Pro Phe Asn Leu Ile Arg Arg Thr Ala Ile Lys Val Ser Val 115 120 125 His Ser Trp Phe Ser Leu Phe Ile Thr Val Thr Ile Leu Val Asn Cys 130 135 140 Val Cys Met Thr Arg Thr Asp Leu Pro Glu Lys Ile Glu Tyr Val Phe 145 150 155 160 Thr Val Ile Tyr Thr Phe Glu Ala Leu Ile Lys Ile Leu Ala Arg Gly 165 170 175 Phe Cys Leu Asn Glu Phe Thr Tyr Leu Arg Asp Pro Trp Asn Trp Leu 180 185 190 Asp Phe Ser Val Ile Thr Leu Ala Tyr Val Gly Thr Ala Ile Asp Leu 195 200 205 Arg Gly Ile Ser Gly Leu Arg Thr Phe Arg Val Leu Arg Ala Leu Lys 210 215 220 Thr Val Ser Val Ile Pro Gly Leu Lys Val Ile Val Gly Ala Leu Ile 225 230 235 240 His Ser Val Lys Lys Leu Ala Asp Val Thr Ile Leu Thr Ile Phe Cys 245 250 255 Leu Ser Val Phe Ala Leu Val Gly Leu Gln Leu Phe Lys Gly Asn Leu 260 265 270 Lys Asn Lys Cys Val Lys Asn Asp Met Ala Val Asn Glu Thr Thr Asn 275 280 285 Tyr Ser Ser His Arg Lys Pro Asp Ile Tyr Ile Asn Lys Arg Gly Thr 290 295 300 Ser Asp Pro Leu Leu Cys Gly Asn Gly Ser Asp Ser Gly His Cys Pro 305 310 315 320 Asp Gly Tyr Ile Cys Leu Lys Thr Ser Asp Asn Pro Asp Phe Asn Tyr 325 330 335 Thr Ser Phe Asp Ser Phe Ala Trp Ala Phe Leu Ser Leu Phe Arg Leu 340 345 350 Met Thr Gln Asp Ser Trp Glu Arg Leu Tyr Gln Gln Thr Leu Arg Thr 355 360 365 Ser Gly Lys Ile Tyr Met Ile Phe Phe Val Leu Val Ile Phe Leu Gly 370 375 380 Ser Phe Tyr Leu Val Asn Leu Ile Leu Ala Val Val Thr Met Ala Tyr 385 390 395 400 Glu Glu Gln Asn Gln Ala Thr Thr Asp Glu Ile Glu Ala Lys Glu Lys 405 410 415 Lys Phe Gln Glu Ala Leu Glu Met Leu Arg Lys Glu Gln Glu Val Leu 420 425 430 Ala Ala Leu Gly Ile Asp Thr Thr Ser Leu His Ser His Asn Gly Ser 435 440 445 Pro Leu Thr Ser Lys Asn Ala Ser Glu Arg Arg His Arg Ile Lys Pro 450 455 460 Arg Val Ser Glu Gly Ser Thr Glu Asp Asn Lys Ser Pro Arg Ser Asp 465 470 475 480 Pro Tyr Asn Gln Arg Arg Met Ser Phe Leu Gly Leu Ala Ser Gly Lys 485 490 495 Arg Arg Ala Ser His Gly Ser Val Phe His Phe Arg Ser Pro Gly Arg 500 505 510 Asp Ile Ser Leu Pro Glu Gly Val Thr Asp Asp Gly Val Phe Pro Gly 515 520 525 Asp His Glu Ser His Arg Gly Ser Leu Leu Leu Gly Gly Gly Ala Gly 530 535 540 Gln Gln Gly Pro Leu Pro Arg Ser Pro Leu Pro Gln Pro Ser Asn Pro 545 550 555 560 Asp Ser Arg His Gly Glu Asp Glu His Gln Pro Pro Pro Thr Ser Glu 565 570 575 Leu Ala Pro Gly Ala Val Asp Val Ser Ala Phe Asp Ala Gly Gln Lys 580 585 590 Lys Thr Phe Leu Ser Ala Glu Tyr Leu Asp Glu Pro Phe Arg Ala Gln 595 600 605 Arg Ala Met Ser Val Val Ser Ile Ile Thr Ser Val Leu Glu Glu Leu 610 615 620 Glu Glu Ser Glu Gln Lys Cys Pro Pro Cys Leu Thr Ser Leu Ser Gln 625 630 635 640 Lys Tyr Leu Ile Trp Asp Cys Cys Pro Met Trp Val Lys Leu Lys Thr 645 650 655 Ile Leu Phe Gly Leu Val Thr Asp Pro Phe Ala Glu Leu Thr Ile Thr 660 665 670 Leu Cys Ile Val Val Asn Thr Ile Phe Met Ala Met Glu His His Gly 675 680 685 Met Ser Pro Thr Phe Glu Ala Met Leu Gln Ile Gly Asn Ile Val Phe 690 695 700 Thr Ile Phe Phe Thr Ala Glu Met Val Phe Lys Ile Ile Ala Phe Asp 705 710 715 720 Pro Tyr Tyr Tyr Phe Gln Lys Lys Trp Asn Ile Phe Asp Cys Ile Ile 725 730 735 Val Thr Val Ser Leu Leu Glu Leu Gly Val Ala Lys Lys Gly Ser Leu 740 745 750 Ser Val Leu Arg Ser Phe Arg Leu Leu Arg Val Phe Lys Leu Ala Lys 755 760 765 Ser Trp Pro Thr Leu Asn Thr Leu Ile Lys Ile Ile Gly Asn Ser Val 770 775 780 Gly Ala Leu Gly Asn Leu Thr Ile Ile Leu Ala Ile Ile Val Phe Val 785 790 795 800 Phe Ala Leu Val Gly Lys Gln Leu Leu Gly Glu Asn Tyr Arg Asn Asn 805 810 815 Arg Lys Asn Ile Ser Ala Pro His Glu Asp Trp Pro Arg Trp His Met 820 825 830 His Asp Phe Phe His Ser Phe Leu Ile Val Phe Arg Ile Leu Cys Gly 835 840 845 Glu Trp Ile Glu Asn Met Trp Ala Cys Met Glu Val Gly Gln Lys Ser 850 855 860 Ile Cys Leu Ile Leu Phe Leu Thr Val Met Val Leu Gly Asn Leu Val 865 870 875 880 Val Leu Asn Leu Phe Ile Ala Leu Leu Leu Asn Ser Phe Ser Ala Asp 885 890 895 Asn Leu Thr Ala Pro Glu Asp Asp Gly Glu Val Asn Asn Leu Gln Val 900 905 910 Ala Leu Ala Arg Ile Gln Val Phe Gly His Arg Thr Lys Gln Ala Leu 915 920 925 Cys Ser Phe Phe Ser Arg Ser Cys Pro Phe Pro Gln Pro Lys Ala Glu 930 935 940 Pro Glu Leu Val Val Lys Leu Pro Leu Ser Ser Ser Lys Ala Glu Asn 945 950 955 960 His Ile Ala Ala Asn Thr Ala Arg Gly Ser Ser Gly Gly Leu Gln Ala 965 970 975 Pro Arg Gly Pro Arg Asp Glu His Ser Asp Phe Ile Ala Asn Pro Thr 980 985 990 Val Trp Val Ser Val Pro Ile Ala Glu Gly Glu Ser Asp Leu Asp Asp 995 1000 1005 Leu Glu Asp Asp Gly Gly Glu Asp Ala Gln Ser Phe Gln Gln Glu 1010 1015 1020 Val Ile Pro Lys Gly Gln Gln Glu Gln Leu Gln Gln Val Glu Arg 1025 1030 1035 Cys Gly Asp His Leu Thr Pro Arg Ser Pro Gly Thr Gly Thr Ser 1040 1045 1050 Ser Glu Asp Leu Ala Pro Ser Leu Gly Glu Thr Trp Lys Asp Glu 1055 1060 1065 Ser Val Pro Gln Ala Pro Ala Glu Gly Val Asp Asp Thr Ser Ser 1070 1075 1080 Ser Glu Gly Ser Thr Val Asp Cys Leu Asp Pro Glu Glu Ile Leu 1085 1090 1095 Arg Lys Ile Pro Glu Leu Ala Asp Asp Leu Glu Glu Pro Asp Asp 1100 1105 1110 Cys Phe Thr Glu Gly Cys Ile Arg His Cys Pro Cys Cys Lys Leu 1115 1120 1125 Asp Thr Thr Lys Ser Pro Trp Asp Val Gly Trp Gln Val Arg Lys 1130 1135 1140 Thr Cys Tyr Arg Ile Val Glu His Ser Trp Phe Glu Ser Phe Ile 1145 1150 1155 Ile Phe Met Ile Leu Leu Ser Ser Gly Ser Leu Ala Phe Glu Asp 1160 1165 1170 Tyr Tyr Leu Asp Gln Lys Pro Thr Val Lys Ala Leu Leu Glu Tyr 1175 1180 1185 Thr Asp Arg Val Phe Thr Phe Ile Phe Val Phe Glu Met Leu Leu 1190 1195 1200 Lys Trp Val Ala Tyr Gly Phe Lys Lys Tyr Phe Thr Asn Ala Trp 1205 1210 1215 Cys Trp Leu Asp Phe Leu Ile Val Asn Ile Ser Leu Ile Ser Leu 1220 1225 1230 Thr Ala Lys Ile Leu Glu Tyr Ser Glu Val Ala Pro Ile Lys Ala 1235 1240 1245 Leu Arg Thr Leu Arg Ala Leu Arg Pro Leu Arg Ala Leu Ser Arg 1250 1255 1260 Phe Glu Gly Met Arg Val Val Val Asp Ala Leu Val Gly Ala Ile 1265 1270 1275 Pro Ser Ile Met Asn Val Leu Leu Val Cys Leu Ile Phe Trp Leu 1280 1285 1290 Ile Phe Ser Ile Met Gly Val Asn Leu Phe Ala Gly Lys Phe Trp 1295 1300 1305 Arg Cys Ile Asn Tyr Thr Asp Gly Glu Phe Ser Leu Val Pro Leu 1310 1315 1320 Ser Ile Val Asn Asn Lys Ser Asp Cys Lys Ile Gln Asn Ser Thr 1325 1330 1335 Gly Ser Phe Phe Trp Val Asn Val Lys Val Asn Phe Asp Asn Val 1340 1345 1350 Ala Met Gly Tyr Leu Ala Leu Leu Gln Val Ala Thr Phe Lys Gly 1355 1360 1365 Trp Met Asp Ile Met Tyr Ala Ala Val Asp Ser Arg Glu Val Asn 1370 1375 1380 Met Gln Pro Lys Trp Glu Asp Asn Val Tyr Met Tyr Leu Tyr Phe 1385 1390 1395 Val Ile Phe Ile Ile Phe Gly Gly Phe Phe Thr Leu Asn Leu Phe 1400 1405 1410 Val Gly Val Ile Ile Asp Asn Phe Asn Gln Gln Lys Lys Lys Leu 1415 1420 1425 Gly Gly Gln Asp Ile Phe Met Thr Glu Glu Gln Lys Lys Tyr Tyr 1430 1435 1440 Asn Ala Met Lys Lys Leu Gly Ser Lys Lys Pro Gln Lys Pro Ile 1445 1450 1455 Pro Arg Pro Leu Asn Lys Phe Gln Gly Phe Val Phe Asp Ile Val 1460 1465 1470 Thr Arg Gln Ala Phe Asp Ile Thr Ile Met Val Leu Ile Cys Leu 1475 1480 1485 Asn Met Ile Thr Met Met Val Glu Thr Asp Asp Gln Ser Glu Glu 1490 1495 1500 Lys Thr Lys Ile Leu Gly Lys Ile Asn Gln Phe Phe Val Ala Val 1505 1510 1515 Phe Thr Gly Glu Cys Val Met Lys Met Phe Ala Leu Arg Gln Tyr 1520 1525 1530 Tyr Phe Thr Asn Gly Trp Asn Val Phe Asp Phe Ile Val Val Val 1535 1540 1545 Leu Ser Ile Ala Ser Leu Ile Phe Ser Ala Ile Leu Lys Ser Leu 1550 1555 1560 Gln Ser Tyr Phe Ser Pro Thr Leu Phe Arg Val Ile Arg Leu Ala 1565 1570 1575 Arg Ile Gly Arg Ile Leu Arg Leu Ile Arg Ala Ala Lys Gly Ile 1580 1585 1590 Arg Thr Leu Leu Phe Ala Leu Met Met Ser Leu Pro Ala Leu Phe 1595 1600 1605 Asn Ile Gly Leu Leu Leu Phe Leu Val Met Phe Ile Tyr Ser Ile 1610 1615 1620 Phe Gly Met Ser Ser Phe Pro His Val Arg Trp Glu Ala Gly Ile 1625 1630 1635 Asp Asp Met Phe Asn Phe Gln Thr Phe Ala Asn Ser Met Leu Cys 1640 1645 1650 Leu Phe Gln Ile Thr Thr Ser Ala Gly Trp Asp Gly Leu Leu Ser 1655 1660 1665 Pro Ile Leu Asn Thr Gly Pro Pro Tyr Cys Asp Pro Asn Leu Pro 1670 1675 1680 Asn Ser Asn Gly Thr Arg Gly Asp Cys Gly Ser Pro Ala Val Gly 1685 1690 1695 Ile Ile Phe Phe Thr Thr Tyr Ile Ile Ile Ser Phe Leu Ile Val 1700 1705 1710 Val Asn Met Tyr Ile Ala Val Ile Leu Glu Asn Phe Asn Val Ala 1715 1720 1725 Thr Glu Glu Ser Thr Glu Pro Leu Ser Glu Asp Asp Phe Asp Met 1730 1735 1740 Phe Tyr Glu Thr Trp Glu Lys Phe Asp Pro Glu Ala Thr Gln Phe 1745 1750 1755 Ile Thr Phe Ser Ala Leu Ser Asp Phe Ala Asp Thr Leu Ser Gly 1760 1765 1770 Pro Leu Arg Ile Pro Lys Pro Asn Arg Asn Ile Leu Ile Gln Met 1775 1780 1785 Asp Leu Pro Leu Val Pro Gly Asp Lys Ile His Cys Leu Asp Ile 1790 1795 1800 Leu Phe Ala Phe Thr Lys Asn Val Leu Gly Glu Ser Gly Glu Leu 1805 1810 1815 Asp Ser Leu Lys Ala Asn Met Glu Glu Lys Phe Met Ala Thr Asn 1820 1825 1830 Leu Ser Lys Ser Ser Tyr Glu Pro Ile Ala Thr Thr Leu Arg Trp 1835 1840 1845 Lys Gln Glu Asp Ile Ser Ala Thr Val Ile Gln Lys Ala Tyr Arg 1850 1855 1860 Ser Tyr Val Leu His Arg Ser Met Ala Leu Ser Asn Thr Pro Cys 1865 1870 1875 Val Pro Arg Ala Glu Glu Glu Ala Ala Ser Leu Pro Asp Glu Gly 1880 1885 1890 Phe Val Ala Phe Thr Ala Asn Glu Asn Cys Val Leu Pro Asp Lys 1895 1900 1905 Ser Glu Thr Ala Ser Ala Thr Ser Phe Pro Pro Ser Tyr Glu Ser 1910 1915 1920 Val Thr Arg Gly Leu Ser Asp Arg Val Asn Met Arg Thr Ser Ser 1925 1930 1935 Ser Ile Gln Asn Glu Asp Glu Ala Thr Ser Met Glu Leu Ile Ala 1940 1945 1950 Pro Gly Pro 1955 7 649 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (112)..(402) 7 agaatacact cacaagccac tccgctgctc gcctctccgc cccgcgtcca gctcgcccag 60 ctcgcccagc gtccgccgcg cctcgccaag gcttcaacgg accacaccaa a atg cca 117 Met Pro 1 tct caa atg gaa cac gcc atg gaa acc atg atg ttt aca ttt cac aaa 165 Ser Gln Met Glu His Ala Met Glu Thr Met Met Phe Thr Phe His Lys 5 10 15 ttc gct ggg gat aaa ggc tac tta aca aag gag gac ctg aga gta ctc 213 Phe Ala Gly Asp Lys Gly Tyr Leu Thr Lys Glu Asp Leu Arg Val Leu 20 25 30 atg gaa aag gag ttc cct gga ttt ttg gaa aat caa aaa gac cct ctg 261 Met Glu Lys Glu Phe Pro Gly Phe Leu Glu Asn Gln Lys Asp Pro Leu 35 40 45 50 gct gtg gac aaa ata atg aag gac ctg gac cag tgt aga gat ggc aaa 309 Ala Val Asp Lys Ile Met Lys Asp Leu Asp Gln Cys Arg Asp Gly Lys 55 60 65 gtg ggc ttc cag agc ttc ttt tcc cta att gcg ggc ctc acc att gca 357 Val Gly Phe Gln Ser Phe Phe Ser Leu Ile Ala Gly Leu Thr Ile Ala 70 75 80 tgc aat gac tat ttt gta gta cac atg aag cag aag gga aag aag 402 Cys Asn Asp Tyr Phe Val Val His Met Lys Gln Lys Gly Lys Lys 85 90 95 taggcagaaa tgagcagttc gctcctccct gataagagtt gtccaaaggg tcgcttaagg 462 aatctgcccc acagcttccc ccatagaagg atttcatgag cagatcagga cacttagcaa 522 atgtaaaaat aaaatctaac tctcatttga caagcagaga aagaaaagtt aaataccaga 582 taagcttttg atttttgtat tgtttgcatc cccttgccct caataaataa agttcttttt 642 tagttcc 649 8 97 PRT Homo sapiens 8 Met Pro Ser Gln Met Glu His Ala Met Glu Thr Met Met Phe Thr Phe 1 5 10 15 His Lys Phe Ala Gly Asp Lys Gly Tyr Leu Thr Lys Glu Asp Leu Arg 20 25 30 Val Leu Met Glu Lys Glu Phe Pro Gly Phe Leu Glu Asn Gln Lys Asp 35 40 45 Pro Leu Ala Val Asp Lys Ile Met Lys Asp Leu Asp Gln Cys Arg Asp 50 55 60 Gly Lys Val Gly Phe Gln Ser Phe Phe Ser Leu Ile Ala Gly Leu Thr 65 70 75 80 Ile Ala Cys Asn Asp Tyr Phe Val Val His Met Lys Gln Lys Gly Lys 85 90 95 Lys 9 24 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 9 gcgaattcat ggagctcccc tttg 24 10 29 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 10 tatagcggcc gctttgatgg ctgttcttc 29 11 18 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 11 catcccaaat ggagcatg 18 12 27 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 12 ctacttcttc tgcttcatgt gtactac 27 13 18 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 13 ggtgtggtga aggacaac 18 14 18 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 14 catagggaga agggtttc 18 15 20 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 15 accccaccgt gttcttcgac 20 16 20 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 16 catttgccat ggacaagatg 20 17 18 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 17 catcccaaat ggagcatg 18 18 27 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 18 ctacttcttc tgcttcatgt gtactac 27 19 25 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 19 ggaattcatg gagctcccct ttgcg 25 20 30 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 20 aattgcggcc gcagacgctt tgatggctgt 30 21 25 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 21 ggaattcatg gagctcccct ttgcg 25 22 28 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 22 ggaattcaag cagattgctg ctcaccgc 28 23 28 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 23 ggaattcccc aggcctcagc tggacttg 28 24 33 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 24 aattgcggcc gcctcgatct ctgccagtga ctc 33 25 33 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 25 aattgcggcc gccttctcgc ccttgtcctc ctg 33 26 30 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 26 aattgcggcc gcagacgctt tgatggctgt 30 27 23 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 27 gggctggcaa gccacgtttg gtg 23 28 23 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 28 ccgggagctg catgtgtcag agg 23 29 28 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 29 ggaattcccc aggcctcagc tggacttg 28 30 28 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 30 ggaattcctg gtcggggagc ccctggag 28 31 25 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 31 ggaattcttc agtgccactt gggcc 25 32 27 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 32 aattgcggcc gcttctgctg ggagctc 27 33 30 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 33 aattgcggcc gctctggaaa tggtcctgct 30 34 4 PRT Artificial sequence core tetrapeptide of calpactin-I 34 Lys Val Xaa Asp 1 35 23 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 35 aaccatggat gccatcccaa atg 23 36 22 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 36 aaccatgggt gctcatggaa ag 22 37 21 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 37 aaccatgggg gctcatcatt g 21 38 27 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 38 gatctagatc tcaggtcctc ctttgtc 27 39 28 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 39 gatctagacg ccactagtga tagaaagc 28 40 32 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 40 gatctagact acttcttctg cttcatgtgt ac 32 41 20 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 41 accacatggt ccttcttgag 20 42 23 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 42 tgctgtttaa atattaaaca ggg 23 43 29 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 43 aaccatgggt ggacaaaata atgaaagac 29 44 27 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 44 gatctagaag ccagagggtc cttttga 27 45 5 PRT Artificial sequence pentapeptide in p11 EF hand binding region of p11-2 45 Asp Gln Cys Arg Asp 1 5 46 5 PRT Artificial sequence mutated pentapeptide in p11 EF hand binding region of p11-2 46 Ala Gln Ala Arg Ala 1 5 47 23 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 47 aaccatggat gccatcccaa atg 23 48 17 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 48 ggcccaggcc cgagctg 17 49 32 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 49 gatctagact acttcttctg cttcatgtgt ac 32 50 19 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 50 tccagctcgg gcctgggcc 19 51 6 PRT Artificial sequence hexapeptide in p11 EF hand binding region of p11-2 51 Lys Val Gly Phe Gln Ser 1 5 52 6 PRT Artificial sequence mutated hexapeptide in p11 EF hand binding region of p11-2 52 Ala Val Ala Phe Gln Ala 1 5 53 21 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 53 gagcagtggc cttccaggcc t 21 54 25 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 54 tagaaaggcc tggaaggcca ctgct 25 55 20 DNA Artificial sequence Primer 55 accacatggt ccttcttgag 20 

1. A method of identifying a modulator of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC), which method comprises: (a) bringing into contact a VGSC, a p 11 peptide and a test compound under conditions where the VGSC and the p 11 peptide are capable of forming a complex-in the absence of the test compound; and (b) measuring an activity of the VGSC, wherein a change in the activity of the VGSC relative to the activity in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound is a modulator of said VGSC.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said activity is the ability of the VGSC to form a complex with the p 11 peptide.
 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein. said activity is the ability of the VGSC to mediate a sodium current across a membrane.
 4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a decrease in the activity of the VGSC indicates that the test compound is an inhibitor of said Vgsc:
 5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said VGSC is a channel associated with responses to pain.
 6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said channel is expressed in sensory neurons.
 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said channel is sensory neuron specific (SNS).
 8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said channel is tetrodotoxin resistant.
 9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said VGSC is selected fiom the Nav 1.8, Nav 1.9 and Nav 1.3 sodium channels.
 10. A method according to any one of die preceding claims wherein said VGSC has an amino acid sequence comprising: (a) the Nav 1.8 amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 6; (b) a species or allelic variant of (a); (c) a variant of (a) having at least 65% amino acid sequence identity thereto; or (d) a fragment of any of (a) to (c); wherein said VGSC retains the ability to bind a pl 1 peptide.
 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said VGSC retains the abilitv to mediate a sodium current across a membrane.
 12. A method according to claim 10 or 11 wherein said VGSC comprises the sequence of amino acids 53 to 127 or 75 to 102 of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said p 11 peptide has an amino acid sequence comprising: (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: S; (b) a species or allelic variant of (a); (c) a variant of (a) having at least 70% amino acid sequence identity thereto; or (d) a fragment of any of a) to c); wherein said p 11 peptide retains the ability to bind a VGSC.
 14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said p 1I peptide comprises the sequence of amino acids 33 to 77 of SEQ ID NO
 4. 15. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said p 11 peptide is a full length p 11 protein or a species or allelic variant thereof.
 16. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said VGSC and said p 11 peptide are provided in a cell and said cell is contacted with a test compound.
 17. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said VGSC is provided in a cell in which the functional expression of said channel has been enhanced by increasing the level of p 11 in the cell.
 18. A method according to claim 16 or 17 wherein said cell endogenously expresses said VGSC and/or said p 11 peptide
 19. A method according to claim 16 or 17 wherein said channel and/or said p 11 peptide are expressed from one or more vectors introduced into said cell.
 20. A method according to claim 1 comprising the steps of: (i) providing a cell in which the functional activity of an SNS sodium channel has been enhanced by increasing the concentration of p 11 in the cell: (ii) contacting the channel in the cell with the test compound; and (iii) measuring the activity of the channel.
 21. A method according to claim 1 comprising the steps of: (i) bringing into contact an SNS sodium channel, p 11, and a putative modulator compound under conditions where the SNS sodium channel and the p
 11. in the absence of modulator, are capable of forming a complex; and (ii) measuring the degree of inhibition of complex formation baused by said modulator compound.
 22. A method according to claim 1 comprising the steps of: (i) bringing into contact an SNS sodium channel, p 11, and a putative modulator compound under conditions where the SNS sodium channel and the p 11, in the absence of modulator, are capable of forming a complex; (ii) exposing the SNS sodium channel to a stimulus such as to produce a sodium current across a membrane in which the SNS sodium channel is present; and (iii) measuring the degree of inhibition of the current caused by said modulator compound.
 23. A method according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising the step of formulating said test compound as a pharmaceutical composition.
 24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising administering said formulation to an individual for the treatment of pain.
 25. A method of enhancing the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) in a cell which method comprises the step of increasing the level of p 11 in the cell.
 26. A method according to claim 25 wherein said VGSC is as defined in any one of claims 5 to
 12. 27. A method according to claim 25 or 26 wherein said p 11 is as defined in any one of claims 13 to
 15. 28. A compound identified by a method of any one of claims 1 to
 24. 29. A host cell capable of expressing a VGSC and a p 11 peptide wherein said VGSC and/or said p 11 peptide is expressed from one or more heterologous expression vectors within said cell.
 30. Use of a compound identified by a method of any one of claims 1 to 24 in the manufacture of a medicament for modulating the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel.
 31. Use of an inhibitor of p 11 activity or expression in the manufacture of a medicament for modulating the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel.
 32. Use according to claim 30 or 31 wherein said medicament is for producing analgesia.
 33. Use according to claim 30, 31 or 32 wherein said medicament is for relieving chronic pain.
 34. Use according to any one of claims 30 to 33 wherein said inhibitor of p 11 activity or expression is selected from an antibody or fragment thereof specific to the p 11 peptide and antisense cDNA directed to the sequence encoding the p 11 peptide.
 35. Use according to claim 34 wherein said antibody or fragment thereof is directed to an epitope in the region of a p 11 protein defined by amino acids 33 to 77 of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 36. A method of treating a disorder or condition associated with the activity of a voltage gated sodium channel, said method comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a compound identified by a method of any one of claims 1 to 24 or an inhibitor of p 1I activity or expression.
 37. A peptide comprising at least 10 contiguous amino acids of (a) the sequence from amino acid 75 to amino acid 102 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or (b) a sequence having at least 65% amino acid sequence identity to (a), wherein said peptide is capable of specifically binding a p 11 peptide and is less than 1000 amino acids in length.
 38. A peptide comprising at least 10 contiguous ainino acids of (a) the sequence from amino acid 33 to amino acid 77 of SEQ ID NO: 4, or (b) a sequence having at least 70% amino acid sequence identity to a), wherein said peptide is capable of specifically binding a voltage gated sodium channel and is less than 30 amino acids in length.
 39. A peptide according to claim 37 or 38 which comprises at least 15, 20 or 25 contiguous amino acids of (a) or (b). 